PDF BasicsFoundation
What Is a PDF?
A PDF is a document format designed to keep pages looking consistent across devices, apps and operating systems.
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PDF Basics
Understand how PDF files work, what they preserve and when a PDF task needs conversion, compression or OCR.
PDFs are designed to keep documents consistent across devices, but that also means some tasks require the right workflow. This hub explains the core terms before you choose a tool.
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What Is PDF Compression?
PDF compression reduces file size by optimizing how document data is stored. The result depends on what the PDF contains.
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Scanned PDF vs Searchable PDF
A scanned PDF is usually made of page images. A searchable PDF contains selectable text that can be copied or extracted.
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What Is Browser-Based PDF Processing?
Browser-based PDF processing means the browser performs the PDF task on your device instead of sending the file to a backend upload queue.
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How to choose
Choose the smallest workflow that solves the task
- Learn when a PDF is better than an image or Word document.
- Understand why scanned PDFs behave differently from searchable PDFs.
- Choose the right first tool without changing the file unnecessarily.
Common mistakes
Avoid these traps
- Assuming every PDF contains selectable text.
- Using image conversion when page extraction would preserve quality better.
- Compressing repeatedly instead of checking what makes the file large.
FAQ
Questions about pdf basics
Is PDF a document format or an image format?
PDF is a document format. A PDF can contain text, vector graphics, images, forms and metadata.
Where should I start if I am new to PDFs?
Start with What is a PDF?, then use the glossary when a tool mentions compression, encryption, OCR or page ranges.