PDF and PDF/A look identical on screen — but PDF/A is a special archival format with important differences for long-term storage.
What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is an ISO standard for long-term archival of electronic documents. It embeds all fonts, color profiles and metadata to ensure the document looks the same in 50 years.
Key restrictions in PDF/A
PDF/A disallows: encryption, audio/video content, JavaScript, external font references, and links to external resources.
When to use PDF/A
Use PDF/A for legal documents, official records, contracts, medical records, and any document that must be preserved long-term.
When to use regular PDF
Use regular PDF for everyday sharing, emails, presentations and documents that are only needed short-term.
Tips
- Always download the result before closing your browser
- Works with large PDFs — no file size limit
- No signup needed — process immediately
FAQs
Is this really free?
Yes — all Fourmeld PDF tools are 100% free with no signup, no watermark.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes — works in any mobile browser including Chrome and Safari.
Are my files kept private?
Yes — files are processed securely and deleted after download.
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