PDFUA

PDF/UA, short for PDF Universal Accessibility, is an ISO standard that defines accessibility requirements for PDF documents. The standard aims to ensure that people with disabilities can access and interact with PDF content using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnification tools, and keyboard navigation.

PDF/UA specifies the structure and tagging of PDF files, emphasizing a logical reading order, semantic roles, and a clear document hierarchy. It requires proper tagging and the provision of alternative text for non-text elements, such as images. The standard also covers navigation features, tables, lists, forms, and metadata, along with language attributes to support assistive technologies in understanding content and structure.

The standard is intended to be compatible with the broader PDF specification while focusing on accessibility. Achieving conformance typically involves creating or converting content into a tagged PDF, validating the tagging structure, and testing with assistive technologies. Various tooling ecosystems provide conformance checking, remediation guidance, and support for accessible workflows.

PDF/UA is commonly aligned with accessibility objectives described in WCAG guidelines and is used by governments, educational institutions, and organizations that require accessible documentation. It is developed and maintained within ISO in collaboration with the community of stakeholders focused on accessible digital documents, building on the existing PDF standards.

In practice, conformance is demonstrated through documentation and, where applicable, third-party validation by qualified evaluators.