DWG is AutoCAD's working format for editing drawings, PDF is for viewing and printing. DWG is editable, PDF is the final output.
| Criteria | DWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Universal viewing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Print-ready | ✗ | ✓ |
| Layers & blocks | ✓ | ✗ |
| File size | Compact | Medium |
For AutoCAD work, map editing, sharing with engineers.
For printing, sending to clients, archiving, presentations.