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Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Computer-aided design, or CAD, is the use of software to create, modify and document technical drawings and models. It replaced hand drafting for most architecture, engineering and manufacturing work.
CAD programs work in real-world units, so a wall drawn 12 feet long is stored as 12 feet and can be printed at any scale. Common programs include AutoCAD, and many BIM tools build on the same ideas.
CAD files are often exported to PDF for sharing, which keeps the drawing but usually not the measurement data behind it.
A PDF exported from CAD at a stated scale can be measured once the scale is set from a known dimension. See how to get square footage from PDF plans.
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