FAQs
Are PDFs WCAG compliant?
A PDF document is only WCAG compliant if it’s created with accessibility features in mind, such as proper structure, headings, logical reading order, descriptive hyperlinks, alt text, and compatibility with assistive technologies.
Most PDFs published online do not meet these standards unless accessibility is built in from the start.
For further information, explore WCAG Techniques for PDFs.
How can I tell if a PDF is accessible?
You can quickly tell an accessible PDF document by looking for the following indicators:
-
Selectable text – If the text behaves like an image and cannot be highlighted or searched, then the document is not accessible.
-
Alternative text – Images, charts, graphics, and diagrams should all include descriptive alt text detailing the image and its content.
-
Tagged structure – An accessible PDF document should include headings, lists, and a logical reading order.
-
Screen reader test – One of the most reliable methods is to open the PDF with a screen reader such as NVDA or JAWS to ensure the content is read out in the intended order.
What is the difference between a regular PDF and an accessible PDF?
A regular PDF preserves fonts, images, and layout; it usually lacks the underlying structure required to be accessibility compliant. As a result, screen readers and other assistive technologies often struggle to interpret the content properly.
On the other hand, an accessible PDF is built from the outset with accessibility in mind. It includes:
-
Descriptive hyperlinks
-
Proper tagging for headings, lists, and tables
-
A logical reading order
-
Searchable and selectable text
-
Descriptive alt text
-
Metadata, including a document title
The key difference is that an accessible PDF ensures all users can navigate and understand the content.
Can search engines crawl PDFs?
Yes, search engines like Google can crawl and index text-based PDFs. If the document contains selectable text, Googlebot will process the content within the PDF to understand its relevance and index it accordingly.
However, scanned image-only PDFs are not crawlable unless Google uses OCR (optical character recognition) algorithms to extract and include the text in the index.
Even when crawlable, PDFs are generally less effective for SEO. They don’t integrate with site navigation, internal linking, or responsive design as seamlessly as HTML pages, which can limit discoverability and user engagement.