PDF stands for ‘Portable Document Format’ file. It was developed by Adobe so people could share documents regardless of which device, operating system, or software they were using, while preserving the content and formatting. The format has evolved to allow for editing and interactive elements like electronic signatures or buttons. The PDF format is now a standard open format that isn’t just available under Adobe Acrobat. It is maintained by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO).

PDF files aren’t typically created from scratch, but are usually converted, saved or ‘printed’ from other documents or images before sharing, publishing online or storing. They can be viewed on almost all devices. Creating a PDF can involve compressing a file, making it take up less storage space. You would typically create a PDF if you wanted to ensure document fidelity, to make it more secure, or to create a copy for storage.