What is a PDF Editor?
What is a PDF Editor?
A PDF editor enables modifying PDF documents directly in your browser without specialized software. Add text annotations, highlight important sections, draw shapes and freehand marks, fill form fields, insert stamps, and add comments. Unlike full PDF authoring software, editors focus on markup and annotation while preserving the original document structure.
- Draw text boxes to place text precisely where you want
- Highlight, underline, and strikethrough text
- Draw shapes (rectangles, circles, arrows)
- Add signatures with precision placement and resizing
- Distraction-free Full Screen mode for immersive editing
- Insert stamps (approved, reviewed, confidential)
- Add comments and sticky notes for feedback
- Save edited PDF with all modifications preserved
- 100% Client-side processing: Documents never uploaded to server
Benefits of Browser-Based PDF Editing
Online PDF editors eliminate the need for desktop software installation, work across all devices and operating systems, and process files locally for privacy. They're ideal for quick edits, form filling, document review workflows, and collaborative feedback. No subscription required, and documents never leave your device during editing.
How to Use
- Upload PDF file to editor workspace
- Select tool: text, highlight, draw, shapes, or signature
- For text: Draw a box on the page to start typing
- For signature: Sign in the modal, then click to place it on the page
- Use Full Screen mode (top right) for more workspace
- Use color picker for customizing annotations
- Save edited PDF with all changes preserved
- Original file remains untouched; edited version is new file
PDF Editing & Annotation Glossary
- PDF Annotation
- Markup added to a PDF document (text, highlights, comments) that appears over the original content without altering it.
- Form Field
- Interactive element in a PDF designed to collect information (text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns).
- Highlighter Tool
- Annotation tool that adds transparent colored overlay to emphasize text, similar to a physical highlighter marker.
- Freehand Drawing
- Pen-like tool for creating custom marks, sketches, or signatures directly on PDF pages.
- PDF Stamp
- Pre-designed graphic annotation indicating document status (e.g., "Approved", "Confidential", "Draft").
- Sticky Note
- Comment annotation that appears as an icon on the PDF, expandable to show full text feedback.
- Non-Destructive Editing
- Modification approach where original content remains intact and edits are stored as separate layers.
- PDF Markup
- General term for any visual annotations added to a PDF during review or editing processes.
- Full Screen Mode
- A display mode that expands the editor to cover the entire screen, removing browser UI distractions.