We are often asked if content can be published in PDF format, as this is a popular way of sharing documents.
The recommended format for web content is as an HTML publication. This is a time-stamped publication that opens in a web browser.
If you are not sure what format to use, please mention this in your content brief and our team will be able to assist you.
When to format new content as a PDF
It would be appropriate to use a PDF in these cases:
- The content is designed to be printed off by users
- You need to display complex content that is not web-friendly e.g. complicated diagrams or flow charts.
Otherwise we recommend publishing in HTML format. All PDFs published on GOV.UK should have a Gateway number.
Drawbacks of using PDFs
While PDFs are a useful document type for sharing internally, we do not use PDFs to share information on the web for these reasons:
- PDFs cannot be easily discovered by users through the search engines
- PDFs are not mobile-friendly, so they are more difficult to access
- It is easier to keep an HTML document accurate and up to date
Why we use HTML as the preferred format
HTML is the recommended format for web content because:
- HTML documents are easier to read online
- HTML documents are easier for users to locate in the search engines
- HTML pages can be easily located on mobile devices
- We need to comply with 'open standards' - we need to make sure we do not discriminate against people with disabilities.
- For example, content must be accessible by someone who has a visual impairment.