Embedded PDF viewer in Firefox 81 supports filling forms (support.mozilla.org)

Article summary

The article discusses the new feature in Firefox 81 that allows users to fill out forms in PDFs directly in the browser. This feature is made possible by the embedded PDF viewer, which has been improved to support form filling. The development of this feature is seen as a response to the widespread use of PDFs on the web. The feature aims to provide a more seamless and secure experience for users when interacting with PDFs online.

Main themes

• PDF viewer in Firefox
• Security benefits
• Convenience and usability
• Bloat and resource allocation
• Complexity of PDFs
• Form-filling functionality

What commenters say

• Some users view the built-in PDF viewer as bloat and prefer to use native PDF viewers, while others find it convenient and secure.
• The built-in PDF viewer is seen as a way to avoid vulnerabilities associated with external PDF viewers and to provide a more streamlined experience.
• Others argue that the development of this feature is unnecessary and that resources could be better spent on other areas.
• The complexity of PDFs and the challenges of implementing a PDF viewer with form-filling functionality are acknowledged by some commenters.
• Some users appreciate the ability to fill out forms in PDFs directly in the browser, while others do not see the need for this feature.
• The security benefits of having a sandboxed PDF viewer are highlighted by some commenters, who note that native PDF clients have had numerous security holes in the past.
• There are concerns about the potential for bugs and issues with the new feature, such as broken search functionality in PDFs.