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PDF20 Spec Glossary
Marc Jones edited this page Dec 30, 2025
·
1 revision
Quick reference for key PDF 2.0 concepts with links to relevant sections.
| Term | Description | See |
|---|---|---|
| Portable Document Format | PDF20-Spec-01-Scope | |
| Conforming reader | Application that reads PDF correctly | PDF20-Spec-06-Conformance |
| Conforming writer | Application that creates valid PDF | PDF20-Spec-06-Conformance |
| Cross-reference table | Maps object numbers to byte offsets | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Trailer | Points to catalog and cross-ref | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Term | Description | See |
|---|---|---|
| Indirect object | Object with number and generation | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Direct object | Object written inline | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Stream | Sequence of bytes | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Dictionary | Key-value pairs | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Array | Ordered collection | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Term | Description | See |
|---|---|---|
| Content stream | Sequence of operators | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Operator | Command in content stream | PDF20-Spec-Annex-A |
| Operand | Argument to operator | PDF20-Spec-Annex-A |
| Graphics state | Current drawing parameters | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
| Term | Description | See |
|---|---|---|
| Text object | BT...ET block | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
| Text matrix | Current text transformation | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
| Glyph | Visual representation of character | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
| Font | Collection of glyphs | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
| Encoding | Character to glyph mapping | PDF20-Spec-Annex-D |
| Operator | Purpose | See |
|---|---|---|
Tj |
Show string | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
TJ |
Show array with kerning | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
' |
Move to next line and show | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
" |
Set spacing, move, show | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
| Operator | Purpose | See |
|---|---|---|
Td |
Move text position | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
TD |
Move and set leading | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
Tm |
Set text matrix | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
T* |
Move to next line | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
| Operator | Purpose | See |
|---|---|---|
Tf |
Set font and size | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
Tc |
Set character spacing | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
Tw |
Set word spacing | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
Tz |
Set horizontal scaling | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
TL |
Set leading | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
Tr |
Set rendering mode | PDF20-Spec-09-Text |
| Operator | Purpose | See |
|---|---|---|
q |
Save graphics state | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
Q |
Restore graphics state | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
cm |
Concatenate matrix | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
w |
Set line width | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
| Operator | Purpose | See |
|---|---|---|
m |
Move to | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
l |
Line to | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
c |
Cubic Bézier curve | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
re |
Rectangle | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
h |
Close path | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
| Operator | Purpose | See |
|---|---|---|
S |
Stroke | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
f |
Fill (nonzero) | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
f* |
Fill (even-odd) | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
B |
Fill and stroke | PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics |
| Feature | Description | See |
|---|---|---|
| AES-256 | Required encryption | PDF20-Spec-07-Syntax |
| Associated files | Embedded file improvements | PDF20-Spec-14-Document |
| Geospatial | Geographic data support | PDF20-Spec-14-Document |
| Page output intents | Per-page color management | PDF20-Spec-14-Document |
| Rich media | Enhanced multimedia | PDF20-Spec-13-Multimedia |
- PDF20-Spec-Index - Main PDF 2.0 index
- PDF-Spec-Glossary - PDF 1.7 glossary
- PDF20-Spec-Annex-A - Complete operator list