PDF VS SVG
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Portable Document Format and Scalable Vector Graphics.
Standard for document exchange, preserving layout.
Pros
- Universal layout preservation
- Security features
- Vector text
Cons
- Difficult to edit
- Not responsive for mobile
SVG
svgVector format for infinite scaling without quality loss.
Pros
- Infinite scalability
- Small text-based files
- Programmable with CSS/JS
Cons
- Not for photos
- Complex rendering for detailed art
When PDF wins
Stay with PDF when you need contracts or manuals. Its strengths center on universal layout preservation and a feature set native to Adobe.
When SVG wins
Choose SVG when your workflow prioritizes logos or icons. It delivers infinite scalability plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | SVG | |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | application/pdf | image/svg+xml |
| Developer | Adobe | W3C |
| Release Year | 1993 | 2001 |
| Best For | Contracts, Manuals, Forms, Printing | Logos, Icons, Illustrations |
Need to switch?
Where PDF still wins
Keep PDF when you need universal layout preservation and workflows depend on contracts / manuals. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship SVG deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .pdf glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use SVG for logos while archiving originals as PDF.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.