PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format for presenting documents in a way independent of applications, hardware and operating systems.
The purpose of designing PDF file format by Adobe Company is to support cross-platform and multimedia integrated information publishing, especially for network information publishing. In order to achieve this goal, PDF has many incomparable advantages over other electronic document formats.
PDF file format can encapsulate text, font, format, color, graphics and images in one file independent of device and resolution. Format files can also contain hypertext links, sounds, dynamic images and other electronic information, support super-long files, and are highly integrated, safe and reliable.
PDF files use industry standard compression algorithms, which are usually smaller than PostScript files and easier to transmit and store. It is also page independent. A PDF file contains one or more "pages", which can handle each page independently, especially suitable for multiprocessor systems.
In addition, a PDF file also contains the PDF version used in the file and the positioning information of some important structures in the file. It is precisely because of its various advantages that PDF files have gradually become the new favorite of the publishing industry.
Extended data
PDF file format was developed in the early 1968+0990' s for sharing documents including text format and built-in images. It can be operated across platforms, even if the computer platforms are completely different, the receiver does not need to adapt to related or shared application software interfaces.
At that time, those competing with PDF for cross-platform file formats included DjVu (still under development), Envoy, Common Ground Digital Paper, Farallon Replica and Adobe's own PostScript (. Ps) format.
Before the rise of World Wide Web and HTML text, PDF was very popular in desktop publishing workflow technology. PDF was originally a proprietary format controlled by Adobe. It was not until July 2008 that 1 was officially released as an open standard, and it was released by the International Organization for Standardization as ISO 32000- 1:2008.
Since then, the control of standards has been transferred to the ISO committee organized by industry experts and volunteers. In 2008, Adobe issued a public patent license in ISO 32000- 1, granting the patent buyout authorization required for making, using, selling and publishing PDF-compatible applications.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia -pdf