# The value of PDF

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a universal file format that preserves the fonts, images, and layout of source documents created on a wide range of applications and platforms. Adobe PDF files are compact and complete, and can be shared, viewed, and printed by anyone with the Acrobat or free Adobe Reader software.

Here are a few advantages of Adobe PDF:

| Anyone, anywhere can open a PDF file. All that is needed is the free Adobe Reader software.
| PDF files are compact and searchable.
| Interactive hyperlinks make PDF files easy to navigate.
| Tagged Adobe PDF allows text to reflow for display on mobile platforms, such as Palm OS®, Symbian™, and Pocket PC devices.
| Tagged PDF files contain information on content and structure, which makes them more accessible for screen readers. The Accessibility Setup Assistant makes it easy to change the way that PDF documents appear on-screen and how they’re read by a screen reader. Single-key accelerators and keyboard shortcuts make document navigation simpler. And text in a PDF document can be output to a braille printer.
| Extended language support means that you can view, search, and print PDF documents that contain Cyrillic, Central and Eastern European, and Asian text.
| PDF documents may have special access rights applied, allowing you to fill in forms, sign documents, participate in online document reviews, and attach PDF and non-PDF files to a PDF document.

Adobe Reader Essentials