PDF Association logo

Discover pdfa.org

Key resources

Get involved

How do you find the right PDF technology vendor?
Use the Solution Agent to ask the entire PDF communuity!
The PDF Association celebrates its members’ public statements
of support
for ISO-standardized PDF technology.

Member Area

PDF versions

March 2024 by Peter Wyatt (PDF Association)

Does the PDF version actually matter?

A key finding of recent research: at least 20% of PDF files on the web have an “invalid” PDF version!

However, as our experience with everyday PDF files appears to be unhampered by these inaccurate version numbers the answer to the question, generally speaking, is “no”. 

One important explanation for why the file’s stated version number lacks relevance is that most PDF features are designed to be backward-compatible. There is no need for general PDF software to fail on a document or warn users when it encounters a minor mis-versioned feature – either the software is coded to understand the feature or it ignores the effectively unknown feature(s) that it doesn’t understand. This is today’s experience with most PDF software.

Read more…

Tagged PDF Q & A

March 2024 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association news


Authoritative answers to common questions about Tagged PDF, WTPDF and PDF/UA.

PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff's profile.

March 2024 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

Join pdfa.org for exclusive member benefits tailored to PDF development. Our Member Benefit Manager, Melina, engages in insightful discussions with … Read more

Announcement, Interview, PDF Association news

March 2024 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

The PDF Association has established a new Liaison Working Group (LWG) to serve as a place for forensics experts and … Read more

PDF Association news

February 2024 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

Well-Tagged PDF (WTPDF), a common specification for both reuse and accessibility, is a massive leap forward for PDF technology.

PDF Association news

February 2024 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

All PDF Association Full and Liaison Members who have joined Technical and/or Liaison Working Groups are welcome for two weeks … Read more

PDF Association news

January 2024 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

Adobe’s Standards Support Endowment, now in its sixth year, facilities administration of ISO TC 171 SC 2 and sustains the … Read more

PDF Association news

January 2024 by Matthias Wagner (PDF Association)
Visit Matthias Wagner‘s profile.

The PDF Association has updated its website to make content and resources easier to find. We hope you like it!

PDF Association news

November 2023 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association, Inc.)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

The PDF technical community will hold a series of online meetings during February 2024 to continue advancing the PDF file … Read more

PDF Association news

October 2023 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

PDF Week Fall 2023 in San Francisco covered subjects ranging from HDR to compression, color fonts, animation, accessibility and (much!) … Read more

PDF Association news

July 2023 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

As its members become more active in PDF Association communities we’ve taken new steps to ensure that easy access to … Read more

PDF Association news

June 2023 by PDF Association staff (PDF Association)
PDF Association logo
Visit PDF Association staff‘s profile.

Save October 16-20 for PDF Week Fall 2023 in San Francisco including an open Industry Symposium on Advancing PDF’s Imaging … Read more

PDF Association news

Member News

WordPress Cookie Notice by Real Cookie Banner