Glossary of PDF Editors and Readers (Terms & Acronyms)

Important Links to Related Pages

1.      Return to Explore the 32 Category Master List of Productivity Software Applications

2.      See our Side-by-Side Comparison of PDF Editors & Readers

3.      Return to the PDF Editors & Readers Category List

4.      Scan Through the List of PDF Editors & Readers FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

📘 Glossary: PDF Editors & Readers – Category-Specific Terms

Annotation

The act of marking up a PDF with comments, highlights, shapes, or stamps—available in tools like Foxit Reader, Xodo, and Adobe Acrobat.

Compression

Reducing the file size of a PDF by optimizing text, images, and fonts. Used for faster sharing or uploading.

Digital Signature

A cryptographic method of verifying the authenticity and integrity of a document. Different from simple image-based e-signatures.

Document Assembly

Rearranging, merging, or splitting pages within a PDF document—enabled by tools like PDFsam and PDF Architect.

E-Signature

A legally binding typed, drawn, or uploaded signature applied to a PDF (offered by PDFfiller, Adobe Acrobat, etc.).

Form Field Recognition

An automated feature that detects fields in a scanned form and converts them into interactive fields for digital input.

OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

Technology that converts scanned or image-based text into selectable, editable text—key feature in ABBYY FineReader, PDFelement, and Adobe Acrobat Pro.

PDF/A

A long-term archival version of a PDF that embeds all fonts and disables dynamic content to preserve the document for future access.

Redaction

Permanently removing sensitive information from a document—often used in legal, HR, and government files.

Reflow

Adjusting the layout of text and images to fit smaller screens or reading devices.

Rendering Engine

The internal tool used to display and interpret PDF content. Performance and accuracy vary by software.

Split & Merge

Breaking a single PDF into multiple files or combining several PDFs into one—core features in PDFsam, Sejda, and PDF Mergy.

Template-Based Editing

Using predefined layouts for forms, invoices, or reports that can be reused across documents.

Text Extraction

Pulling plain text from a PDF—used for indexing, search, or conversion to another format.

Watermarking

Adding text or images (e.g., “CONFIDENTIAL” or logos) over a PDF to indicate status, ownership, or branding.

🔤 Glossary of Acronyms – PDF Editors & Readers

PDF – Portable Document Format

A file format developed by Adobe to maintain fixed formatting across devices and platforms.

OCR – Optical Character Recognition

Technology that converts scanned images of text into editable, searchable digital text.

PDF/A – PDF for Archiving

A standardized format for long-term preservation of electronic documents.

API – Application Programming Interface

Used to connect PDF tools to other software platforms (e.g., for batch conversion or e-signature workflows).

GUI – Graphical User Interface

The visual environment where users interact with software—important for usability in PDF tools.

ISO – International Organization for Standardization

PDF standards like PDF 1.7 and PDF/A are governed by ISO.

EULA – End User License Agreement

A contract governing how a PDF tool can be used, especially in enterprise environments.

XFA / AcroForms – XML Forms Architecture

Technologies for creating interactive forms within PDFs. AcroForms is widely supported; XFA is proprietary to Adobe.

PNG / JPG / TIFF – Image Formats

Common formats for exporting PDF pages or importing visual content.

UI / UX – User Interface / User Experience

UI is how a PDF tool looks; UX is how it feels and functions for the user.

Important Links to Related Pages

1.      Return to Explore the 32 Category Master List of Productivity Software Applications

2.      See our Side-by-Side Comparison of PDF Editors & Readers

3.      Return to the PDF Editors & Readers Category List

4.      Scan Through the List of PDF Editors & Readers FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)