PDF/A vs PDF
PDF/A is PDF with rules for long-term preservation. PDF/X and PDF/E are other subsets of PDF, built for printing and engineering.
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Side by side
| PDF/A | ||
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Exchange and display documents | Preserve documents for the long term |
| Fonts | May be missing | Always embedded |
| Encryption | Allowed | Forbidden |
| JavaScript and multimedia | Allowed | Forbidden |
| Editing in Acrobat | Normal | Opens read-only |
PDF/A, PDF/E and PDF/X
- PDF/A (ISO 19005) — archiving: the document must look the same in decades.
- PDF/X (ISO 15930) — print production: colours and page boxes a printer can rely on.
- PDF/E (ISO 24517) — engineering documents such as drawings.
- PDF/UA (ISO 14289) — accessibility for people using assistive technology.
A file can meet more than one of these at once. When a court, an office or an archive asks for «PDF/A», only PDF/A will do.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PDF and PDF/A?
PDF/A is a PDF that follows extra rules for long-term preservation: fonts and colour profiles embedded, no encryption, no JavaScript or external content, and standard metadata.
PDF/A vs PDF/X: which one do I need?
PDF/A for archiving and for submissions that ask for it; PDF/X for sending files to a printer. They solve different problems.