We are living in 2022, but still we are using the old PDF file format. If you are wondering whether you should use PDF format or not then you have certainly landed in the right place. In this post, we are going to discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of using the PDF file format in this evolving era.
First, you should know that PDF stands for portable document format. This is the document format that was created by Adobe in the late 90s. The format is basically used for displaying documents in a read-only mode. PDF files can be accessed and read on all kinds of devices like laptops, mobiles, and even tablets without needing to install a PDF reader on your device.
You would be shocked to know that reports in 2015 showed that more than 2.5 trillion PDF documents are generated every year. This is a big number and is still growing. So let us discuss the pros and cons of PDF.
Popular pros and cons of the PDF files that you should know about
Out of dozens of pros and cons of PDFs here in this section, we are only going to discuss a handful of them:
What are the advantages of the PDF file format?
Let us first go through the pros before knowing the drawbacks of this format.
- The biggest pro of PDF files is that they are secure. You should know that if you want to keep your files private then you need to save them in PDF. PDF format is covered with high levels of security so you don’t have to worry about the contents of the file being breached. The reason you can see PDFs being used in courts and legal proceedings is that they cannot be altered. PDF files are non-editable by nature and so you don’t have to worry about any alternations in them. Other than this feature you must also know that PDF files can be protected with the help of a password. This way only people who have access to the file would be able to open it.
- Another advantage of using PDFs is that they have a consistent format. There is no other format available in the digital world which can sustain its format and structure when opened on multiple devices or versions. PDF files would not change their structure or format no matter where or when you open them. They would have a consistent image-like view on every device.
- The third most interesting benefit of PDFs is that they have a concise size. You must know that PDF files have a lower size as compared to a word or other common document formats. Even if the file size of PDF is large you can get it small. Today you have online PDF compressor tools that can shrink down the size of your PDF file without damaging its quality and format.
What are the disadvantages of the PDF file format?
Now that you know about the most famous advantages of PDF you should also know about the cons as to why people tend to use free online PDF converter tools for changing their files from PDF to word or other editable formats.
- One of the top cons of saving your files in PDF is that they can no longer be edited. As we have told you before, PDF files cannot be edited directly. You can surely use online PDF converter tools to get the file in word and make changes to it. But you must know that those changes would be saved and can be tracked by the owner of the file. To edit the PDF file without tracking changes you need to get paid PDF editor tools like the one offered by Adobe. So the cost of editing can be a major drawback.
- The second disadvantage of PDF is its layout. You must know that PDF files are designed and saved in such a way that they are best for printing in A3 or A4 format. Now both of these layouts are no doubt best for printing but they are not at all friendly when it comes to viewing them. You cannot see PDF files as a whole at a time. Moreover, you should know that you have to scroll and zoom in a lot to get into the details of the file. So you can say that bad user experience because of layout is a big con of PDF.
- The third con of PDF files is that they are quite simple and basic. PDF can surely cater to some interactive elements like images but let’s face the fact, the view of the PDF files is quite basic and boring as compared to other file formats like MS Word.
These are some of the cons of PDF as to why people tend to convert PDF to other alternative formats.
