PDF! PDF! PDF! PDFs are everywhere, you may have used them recently to read e-books, fill out the forms, or submit a report. But have you ever been curious to know why PDF files are named PDF? Digging into the history of the portable document will reveal a fascinating story and the significance of PDFs. So, dear readers, let’s uncover the secrets behind one of the most important file formats of today’s digital world.
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Why is a PDF file called a PDF File and PDF Vs Word File
PDFs are portable file formats that cannot be edited but can easily be shared, read, and printed. And they are invented by Adobe in the early 90’s.
In the ’90s sharing documents was not an easy task, Although, there were other file formats available they had certain limitations such as there was requirement to install software to read the data and also it required better hardware configurations, which most of the time led to format variations. To reduce such issues adobe co-founder John Warnock came up with the idea of PDFs, PDFs are the formats that could recapitulate text, images, better fronts, etc. And also ensure that they can be viewed read and shared without requiring any additional installation of software. Hence, for this reason, PDF was born as a portable document format that has better reliability, compatibility, security, and accessibility features.
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Before delving into differences let’s understand what is a word file.
A Word file is a Microsoft Word document that is created using Microsoft Word and comes under the package of Microsoft Office.
Word files are generally editable and they require Microsoft Word to read. They also have extensions like doc and docx, which indicate the format of the document. Word files are used for writing letters, creating resumes and charts, etc. Word files are used by both professional and personal works by people.
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Let’s now find out the difference between a PDF file and a Word document file
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Features
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PDF Files | Word File |
|
File format
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Portable Document Format (PDF) | Microsoft Word document (which includes .doc and .docx) |
|
Layout
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They have a fixed layout | Word has a flowable layout which means the layout is editable. |
| Editing
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Pdf are not editable documents normally but PDFs can be edited by using special software. | Words are easily editable by using MS Word or similar software programs. |
| Visuals
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PDFs maintain the same appearance across different devices and platforms. | Word files may have variations in visuals that depend on the software used. |
| Security
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It offers very good security features like encryption, signature, and access restrictions. | It has security limitations which mainly depend on file permissions. |
| Universal access
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Can be printed, read, and printed easily without the requirement of special software. | Generally, requires Microsoft Word or compatible software for reading, editing, and viewing. |
| Purpose
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It is applicable for documents that require the same formatting, such as forms, contracts, resumes etc. | This is suitable for files that require editing and collaboration of content and is widely used for various documents. |
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This article mainly focused on providing a brief understanding between PDF files and Word files. While both file formats are important and have different works and different preferences. Choose the right format based on your needs and purpose.