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PDF20 Spec Index
Marc Jones edited this page Dec 30, 2025
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Complete PDF 2.0 specification split into 84 navigable pages.
This specification includes errata from ISO 32000-2:2020/Amd 1. Made available by the PDF Association with sponsorship from Adobe, Apryse, and Foxit.
- PDF20-Spec-Glossary - Quick reference for key concepts
- PDF20-Spec-09-Text-Objects - Tj, TJ, Td, Tm (most relevant for redaction)
- PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics-State - CTM, save/restore
- PDF20-Spec-07-Content-Streams - How PDF content works
- PDF20-Spec-Annex-A - Complete operator reference
Key changes from PDF 1.7:
- Deprecated features removed (XFA forms deprecated)
- Improved accessibility (Tagged PDF enhancements)
- New encryption (AES-256)
- Geospatial features
- 3D improvements
- Page-level output intents
| Chapter | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-Front-Matter | Disclaimer, Copyright, Contents |
| PDF20-Spec-01-Scope | Scope |
| PDF20-Spec-02-Normative-References | Normative References |
| PDF20-Spec-03-Terms | Terms and Definitions |
| PDF20-Spec-04-Notation | Notation |
| PDF20-Spec-05-Version | Version Designations |
| PDF20-Spec-06-Conformance | Conformance |
PDF file structure, objects, content streams
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-07-General | 7.1 General |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Lexical | 7.2 Lexical Conventions |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Objects | 7.3 Objects |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Filters | 7.4 Filters |
| PDF20-Spec-07-File-Structure | 7.5 File Structure |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Encryption | 7.6 Encryption |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Document-Structure | 7.7 Document Structure |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Content-Streams | 7.8 Content Streams |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Common-Data | 7.9 Common Data Structures |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Functions | 7.10-7.11 Functions & File Specs |
| PDF20-Spec-07-Extensions | 7.12 Extensions Dictionary |
Drawing, color, images, transformations
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-08-General | 8.1 General |
| PDF20-Spec-08-Coordinate | 8.2 Coordinate Systems |
| PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics-State | 8.3 Graphics State |
| PDF20-Spec-08-Graphics-Objects | 8.4 Graphics Objects |
| PDF20-Spec-08-Path-Construction | 8.5 Path Construction |
| PDF20-Spec-08-Colour-Spaces | 8.6 Colour Spaces |
| PDF20-Spec-08-Patterns | 8.7 Patterns |
| PDF20-Spec-08-XObjects | 8.8 External Objects |
| PDF20-Spec-08-Images | 8.9-8.11 Images & Form XObjects |
Text operators, fonts, encoding
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-09-General | 9.1 General |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Organization | 9.2 Organization and Use of Fonts |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Text-State | 9.3 Text State Parameters |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Text-Objects | 9.4 Text Objects (BT, ET, Tj, TJ) |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Text-Strings | 9.5 Text Strings |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Simple-Fonts | 9.6 Simple Fonts |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Composite-Fonts | 9.7 Composite Fonts |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Font-Descriptors | 9.8 Font Descriptors |
| PDF20-Spec-09-Embedded-Fonts | 9.9-9.10 Embedded Fonts & Extraction |
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-10-Rendering | Complete chapter |
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-11-Transparency | Complete chapter |
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-12-General | 12.1 General |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Viewer-Prefs | 12.2 Viewer Preferences |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Doc-Navigation | 12.3 Document-Level Navigation |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Page-Navigation | 12.4 Page-Level Navigation |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Annotations | 12.5 Annotations |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Actions | 12.6 Actions |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Forms | 12.7 Forms |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Signatures | 12.8 Digital Signatures |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Measurement | 12.9 Measurement Properties |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Geospatial | 12.10 Geospatial Features |
| PDF20-Spec-12-Requirements | 12.11 Document Requirements |
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-13-General | 13.1 General |
| PDF20-Spec-13-Multimedia | 13.2 Multimedia |
| PDF20-Spec-13-Sounds | 13.3 Sounds |
| PDF20-Spec-13-Movies | 13.4 Movies |
| PDF20-Spec-13-Alternate | 13.5 Alternate Presentations |
| PDF20-Spec-13-3D | 13.6 3D Artwork |
| PDF20-Spec-13-Rich-Media | 13.7 Rich Media |
| Section | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-14-General | 14.1 General |
| PDF20-Spec-14-Procedure-Sets | 14.2 Procedure Sets |
| PDF20-Spec-14-Metadata | 14.3 Metadata |
| PDF20-Spec-14-File-Identifiers | 14.4 File Identifiers |
| PDF20-Spec-14-Page-Piece | 14.5 Page-Piece Dictionaries |
| PDF20-Spec-14-Marked-Content | 14.6 Marked Content |
| PDF20-Spec-14-Logical-Structure | 14.7 Logical Structure |
| PDF20-Spec-14-Tagged-PDF | 14.8 Tagged PDF |
| PDF20-Spec-14-Accessibility | 14.9 Accessibility Support |
| Annex | Title |
|---|---|
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-A | Operator Summary ⭐ |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-B | Type 4 Function Operators |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-C | Maximising Portability |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-D | Character Sets and Encodings |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-E | Extending PDF |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-F | Linearized PDF |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-G | Linearized PDF Access Strategies |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-H | Example PDF Files |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-I | PDF Versions and Compatibility |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-J | XObject Comparison |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-K | XFA Forms (deprecated) |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-L | Structure Element Relationships |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-M | Structure Namespace Differences |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-N | Halftone Best Practices |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-O | Fragment Identifiers |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-P | Blending Colour Space Algorithm |
| PDF20-Spec-Annex-Q | Page Transparency Detection |
| Feature | PDF 1.7 | PDF 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | RC4, AES-128 | AES-256 required |
| XFA Forms | Supported | Deprecated |
| Tagged PDF | Basic | Enhanced |
| Accessibility | Limited | Full support |
| Digital Signatures | PKCS#7 | PAdES support |
- PDF-Spec-Index - PDF 1.7 Specification (ISO 32000-1:2008)
- Redaction-Engine - How pdfe implements redaction
- PDF-Content-Streams - Content stream documentation
This specification is ISO 32000-2:2020, made available by the PDF Association under sponsorship from Adobe, Apryse, and Foxit.