Which software is primarily used for viewing PDF files?

The best choice for viewing PDF files is Acrobat Reader, which is often referred to as Adobe Acrobat Reader. This software is specifically designed for opening, viewing, and manipulating PDF documents. Adobe has established Acrobat Reader as the standard application for handling PDFs, providing a wide range of features such as annotations, filling forms, and printing documents.

While Adobe Reader and Acrobat Reader are essentially the same application—Adobe has often used both terminologies—the term "Acrobat Reader" is more commonly recognized. The software allows users to open PDF files seamlessly, ensuring that the document appears as intended by the creator, preserving formatting and graphics.

Though other options like Microsoft Word and Preview can open PDF files, they do not specialize in PDF document handling to the extent that Acrobat Reader does. Microsoft Word can convert and view PDFs, but its primary function is word processing, and it may not preserve the file's original design quite as effectively. Preview, available on macOS, can view PDFs but is more limited in its features compared to Acrobat Reader.