A pdf file extension is mainly used for Adobe Portable document format, commonly referred to as PDF. All programs that create some sort of documents or projects offer the possibility to export their format to PDF format. A free PDF viewer (Adobe Reader) is available for download from Adobe website.
There is one other file type using
the PDF file extension!
.pdf - ArcView preferences definition data
Software that open pdf file
PDF file extension - Adobe Portable document format
What is pdf file? How to open pdf files?
The pdf file extension is first and foremost associated with Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) documents. Other file formats with PDF file extension in our list are very rare and it would not be an exaggeration to say that 99,99% of PDFs found on the Internet are Adobe Portable documents.
Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format proprietary to Adobe Systems for representing two-dimensional documents in a device-independent and resolution-independent fixed-layout document format. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a 2D document (and, with the advent of Acrobat 3D, embedded 3D documents) that includes the text, fonts, images, and 2D vector graphics that compose the document.
PDF files do not encode information that is specific to the application software, hardware, or operating system used to create or view the document. This feature ensures that a valid PDF will render exactly the same regardless of its origin or destination (but depending on font availability).
Anyone may create applications that read and write PDF files without having to pay royalties to Adobe Systems, however, Adobe holds several patents relating to the PDF format and claims that it is an open standard, licensing them on a royalty-free basis for use in developing software that complies with its PDF specification.
PDF files are most appropriately used to encode the exact look of a document in a device-independent way. While the PDF format can describe very simple one-page documents, it may also be used for many pages, complex documents that use a variety of different fonts, graphics, colors, and images.
PDF readers for many platforms are available, such as Xpdf, Foxit, and Adobe's own Adobe Reader. There are also front-ends for many platforms to Ghostscript. PDF readers are generally free.
There are many software options for creating PDFs, including the PDF printing capability built into Mac OS X, the multi-platform OpenOffice, numerous PDF print drivers for Microsoft Windows, and Adobe Acrobat itself. There is also specialized software for editing PDF files.
MIME types used for PDF file type:
application/pdf
application/x-pdf
application/acrobat
applications/vnd.pdf
text/pdf
text/x-pdf
application/x-bzpdf
application/x-gzpdf
Updated: February 3, 2023
The default software associated to open pdf file:
Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (formerly Adobe Acrobat Reader or Reader X) is a PDF documents viewer-only software from Adobe.
Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe Acrobat is fully featured document solution that works with PDF format and is able of both opening and editing of existing PDF documents, or creating new ones from scratch. Acrobat DC is the last version after Acrobat XI. You can purchase it as standalone desktop software.
Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC for Mac software is the free global standard for reliably viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents.
Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Much like its Windows counterpart, the Mac version of Adobe Acrobat is software used view, create, manipulate, print and manage files in PDF document file format. Acrobat is available in three editions - Acrobat XI Pro, Acrobat XI Standard and Acrobat XI Suite as well as part of Creative Cloud.
List of software applications associated to the .pdf file extension
Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open pdf file, edit pdf file, convert pdf file, view pdf file, play pdf file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).
Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting pdf files.
Software that open pdf file - Adobe Portable document format
Programs supporting the exension pdf on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open pdf file action.
Microsoft Windows:
Main software associated with pdf file by default:
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat
Other suggested software:
PDF Architect
Adobe Illustrator
Nitro Pro
Apple macOS / Mac OS X:
Main software associated with pdf file by default:
Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac
Adobe Acrobat for Mac
Other suggested software:
Adobe Illustrator for Mac
