Difference Between PDF and XPS

PDF and XPS are two common file formats used for digital documents. PDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, was created by Adobe Systems back in 1993 and has since become widely utilized for a variety of purposes. On the other hand, XPS, or XML Paper Specification, was developed by Microsoft in 2006 and is primarily utilized for printing and publishing functions on Windows-based devices. Although these formats share some similarities, they also have certain distinctions in terms of features and capabilities.

What is PDF File?

PDF is a file format that was first introduced by Adobe Systems in 1993. It is known for its versatility in preserving the formatting, fonts, and images of a document, making it a popular choice for creating and sharing documents in various industries including publishing, government, and education. One of the key advantages of PDF is that it can be viewed on almost any device using a PDF viewer, which is available for free download from Adobe’s website. This has made it a reliable and widely accepted file format for digital document sharing.

What is XPS File?

XPS is a file format created by Microsoft in 2006. It is a document format that uses XML markup to define the content of a document. Similar to PDF files, XPS files also preserve the formatting, fonts, and images of a document. However, it is important to note that XPS files can only be opened and viewed on devices that either have a built-in XPS viewer or have installed Microsoft’s XPS viewer software. This is a key difference between XPS and PDF, as PDF files are generally more widely accessible across different devices and operating systems. XPS is primarily utilized for printing and publishing functions on Windows-based devices.

Differences Between PDF and XPS Files

	PDF	XPS
1.	Developed by Adobe Systems in 1993	Developed by Microsoft in 2006
2.	File extension .pdf	File extension .xps
3.	Limited editing capabilities using Adobe Acrobat	Limited editing capabilities using Microsoft Word
4.	Offers password protection and encryption	Offers password protection and encryption
5.	Supports accessibility options, such as tagging and alt text	Supports accessibility options, such as tagging and alt text
6.	Widely available on various platforms with free viewers, including web browsers	Only available natively on Windows with a built-in viewer or separate download
7.	Uses both lossy and lossless compression methods to reduce file size	Uses lossless compression only, resulting in smaller file sizes
8.	Contains both text and images, preserving formatting, fonts, and graphics	Contains text and vector graphics, preserving formatting and fonts but not raster images
9.	Can be used for a wide range of documents, including forms, ebooks, and contracts	Typically used for printing and publishing purposes, not widely used for other types of documents

In conclusion, PDF and XPS are both popular file formats used for sharing electronic documents. While both formats are similar in many respects, they differ in terms of their development, file extension, editing capabilities, accessibility, availability, compression, and file size.