Can I Publish Content as a PDF?

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.

When is it appropriate to use 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 floe charts.

Otherwise we recommend publishing in HTML format.

Why we do not use PDF as the preferred format

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

Advantages of using HTML format for content

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.