Which file format is designed to maintain the integrity of the document's formatting across different devices?

The PDF file format is specifically designed to ensure that the formatting of a document remains consistent across various devices and operating systems. This means that when a PDF document is opened on different computers, tablets, or smartphones, the layout, fonts, images, and overall appearance will look the same, no matter what software or device is being used. This consistency is critical, especially for professional documents such as reports, resumes, and forms, where the visual presentation is as important as the content itself.

PDF achieves this by embedding the fonts and graphics within the file, creating a self-contained document that does not rely on external resources. This contrasts with other file formats like DOCX, which may appear differently based on the version of the word processor or the system used to open them. XML and HTML are more focused on structuring data and content for web and application development, rather than preserving the exact visual layout across different platforms, making them less suitable for maintaining document integrity in terms of formatting.