3 reasons web developers are attending the PDF Technical Conference 2015

Web browser developers might prefer HTML/CSS and JavaScript, but they have come to accept that PDF has its uses. Most browsers now support some basic PDF features natively, most notably the ability to display PDF pages and copy text from a PDF page.

This change has been profound, if little remarked-on. When once it was generally assumed that anyone viewing PDF files would do so using Adobe’s Reader, today millions of users view PDF documents many times a day in their browsers or on their phones with no Adobe software involved at all.

Why are web-developers beginning to leverage PDF, and attending the PDF Technical Conference?

Reason 1: PDF does some stuff really well that’s hard (or impossible) with HTML

From exact, portable pages to offline workflows to scanned pages to CAD drawings to invoices, to press-ready files; PDF can do a lot. It’s a solid, reliable technology for a wide variety of tasks, many of which aren’t easy or (sometimes) possible in HTML. Who wants to reinvent the wheel? The more economic activity moves online, the more PDF files move into the web.

Reason 2: Recognition that PDF is part of the web technology ecosystem

Many websites offer a “save as PDF” option for their pages, inviting their users to make their own records. Other sites provide navigation to highly-designed or regulated PDF documents, but might also like to provide the best-possible end-user experience of that content. That’s why managing the experience of PDF documents, from creation to viewing to saving offline, is making PDF part of the web developer’s skill-set.

Reason 3: Browsers now support PDF to some extent, but it’s limited, and users lose out

Let’s take one example: many PDF files include forms. Browsers that display PDF files but fail to acknowledge PDF forms are hamstringing users who have highly designed forms in their workflow. They will look for the browser that supports this PDF feature before they abandon the feature or the workflow...

Web technology sessions

A number of sessions at the PDF Technical Conference are oriented towards web technology, including:

• Searching PDF: challenges and opportunities
• Processing PDF forms on webservers
• Programming for PDF using web technologies and the command-line
• PDF toolkits for browsers
• Transforming PDF into HTML
• PDF documents in HTML websites across devices

“PDF-curious” web developers are welcome at the PDF Technical Conference 2015!