Documents
Review Links and Bookmarks in a PDF
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
Purpose and preparation
Check the document's navigation as a reader would use it: identifying a destination, activating it and understanding the arrival point. Include internal references and external links, especially in long documents.
A practical example
A handbook has a contents page, section bookmarks and repeated links labeled “more.”
How to check it
- List the main navigation routes and compare their labels with the destination sections. Improve vague link text in the source where possible.
- Inspect whether links are represented correctly in the PDF structure and can be reached and activated with the keyboard.
- Follow representative contents links, bookmarks and external links. Check that internal destinations land at the intended section and remain correct after repagination.
What can be missed
A visible underlined URL may be plain text, and a clickable annotation may still have poor structure. Test both identification and activation.
Record your test
Use this worksheet to record what you actually checked. Notes stay on this device when you choose Save; they are not sent to us. Avoid personal or confidential information on shared devices.
These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.
Primary sources and scope
This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.