a11yTips

Specify descriptive and meaningful titles for PDF documents

Make sure the title specified for PDF documents is both meaningful and descriptive

By default, PDF documents are naturally assigned a title value corresponding to the document’s default file name. As this file name is usually generated from a character string that does not convey any description about the PDF’s actual content, it consequently fails at reliably conveying what the document is about. As a result, whenever screen reader users open such a document, the information announced as the first indicator of the document’s content is meaningless. In order to ensure that relevant information is conveyed to users, authors need to modify the default file name, to instead assign something that is much more meaningful and descriptive.

To do so, simply specify the title of the document, using any tool designed for authoring PDF documents that provides accessibility support. By specifically assigning a document title through the document’s properties, screen reader users will be able to quickly identify which PDF document they are accessing as they open it, or tab back into it, when multiple documents are opened simultaneously. Sighted users will also benefit, as the information provided at the top of the user interface will be that much more meaningful, a quality that is often lacking when the default file name is displayed instead.

User Story

As a user using assistive technology, I want PDF documents to provide a meaningful and descriptive title, so that I can easily confirm which document I am currently accessing.

Simple Code Example

Not Applicable

Testing Methodology

In Adobe Acrobat Pro, go to the document’s properties and under the “Description” tab, check that the “Title” field has a meaningful value properly describing the document. Then, going to the “Initial View” tab, validate that the “Show” combo box is set to “Document Title” and not “File Name”, so the document title is what ends up being displayed.

Specification Details