Why we prioritise webpages rather than documents

A PDF may be more difficult to update than a webpage. This is because:

• The PDF may have been produced by a third party, which means you have to go back to them to make any amendments. They may charge to do this.
• The PDF may have been produced from a Word original. Do you still have the Word original to amend it?
• If you don't have a Word original or can't afford to pay for amendments, you may not have the editing software to amend your PDF.

Over 60% of our website users access the website on a mobile device.

• PDFs are a fixed size. They don't display well on mobile devices.
• Mobile users must zoom in and out, and navigate from left to right to read them.
• This can be a significant barrier for people with physical disabilties, low vision or learning difficulties.

Other navigation challenges

• Users might be surprised or confused when a new application (like a PDF reader) opens unexpectedly.
• When a user opens a PDF, they leave the website and lose access to familiar functions such as site search and navigation.
• PDFs often lack the dynamic navigation features of webpages. Key information may be buried in the document. This can decrease the ability to find specific information quickly.
• Layout of content in a PDF may be challenging for neurodivergent users to follow.
• Some PDF features, like embedded forms, can be difficult for some assistive technologies like screen readers to interpret correctly.

• Once somebody downloads a PDF, they may not return to the website to download a more recent copy.
• Sensitive information published by mistake cannot be removed from downloaded copies.
• People can spread false information by sharing a copy they think is current.

• Document authors may use their own style, which can detract from the corporate brand.
• Structure and layout, colours, fonts, text size and alignment may all differ from corporate branding.
• This can be confusing for users, as it creates an unexpected difference between webpages and PDFs.

Essential information, like what a user needs to know to complete a transaction, should always be presented on a webpage.

• Search engines like Google consider PDFs a print format, which means they appear lower in search engine results than webpages.
• Search engines may not index the content in a PDF content as effectively as content in a webpage. This can lower the ability to find information in PDFs in search engine results.

PDF files can be large, leading to longer loading times on user devices, especially on slower internet connections. This can frustrate users who expect quick access to information without having to wait.