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Accessibility library

The essentials · 4 MIN READ

What makes a PDF accessible?

An accessible PDF helps people reach the same information through different ways of reading and interacting. Visual appearance is only one part of that experience.

Make the structure understandable

A tagged PDF describes the roles of its content: headings, paragraphs, lists, and more. Those roles give assistive technology a way to navigate the file. A document with selectable text still needs meaningful structure.

Preserve the meaning

Content needs a logical sequence. Meaningful images need useful text alternatives. A table needs relationships that help a reader connect a value to its heading. The right approach depends on the document’s actual content.

Check the experience

Review the structure as well as the page. Try navigating by headings and reading through the content. Record what was tested and any remaining limitations, so the next person understands what the result represents.

Explore the source guidance

These guides introduce the topic. Agree on the specific document requirements and review scope for your project.

Keep learning

What automation can—and cannot—confirmReading order: the story behind the page

THE NEXT DOCUMENT CAN BE BETTER

Make accessibility part
of your publishing process.

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