Understanding PDF Tag Types in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Today’s post is a comprehensive overview of the different types of PDF tags, how they function, and why they are essential for inclusive document design.

Video Guide

What Are Tags and Why Are They Important?

Tags define the structure and semantics of content in PDFs. They inform screen readers about the nature of each element—whether it is a heading, list, link, table, paragraph or image—and the order in which the reader should interpret it.

More than 90 percent of assistive technologies rely on these tags to communicate content accurately. When authors omit or misuse tags, they compromise both user experience and compliance with accessibility standards.

Understanding Tag Structure: Parent and Child Elements

Every tag contains two essential components:

• Parent Tag: This label defines the type of content, such as <Figure>, <H1>, or <P>.
• Child Tag or Content Container: This nested element holds the actual data, such as text, an image, or a link.

The Tags panel in Adobe Acrobat visually displays the hierarchy through indentation. Proper nesting ensures that assistive technologies interpret the structure correctly.

Overview of Common Tag Types

Headings (H1-H6)

Use heading tags to structure content hierarchically. <H1> represents top-level sections, and subsequent levels range from <H2> to <H6> for sub-sections.

Paragraph (<P>)

The paragraph tag designates body text. It appears frequently in most accessible documents.

Lists (<L>, <LI>, <LBL>, <LBody>)

List tags require multiple nested elements:

• <L> wraps the entire list.
• <LI> represents individual items.
• <LBL> includes bullets or numbering.
• <LBody> holds the content for each list item.

Each list item must include both <LBL> and <LBody> to meet accessibility guidelines.

Figures (<Figure>)

Use figure tags to label images. These tags contain child elements with the image content and any applicable alternative text.

Links (<Link>)

Embed link tags inside structural tags such as <P>. A complete link tag should include:

• The clickable object reference
• The visible link text
• The destination URL

Link tags cannot function independently and must be nested inside other structural tags.

Tables (<Table>, <TR>, <TH>, <TD>)

Table tags organize tabular data hierarchically:

• <Table> defines the table
• <TR> defines each row
• <TH> marks header cells
• <TD> marks data cells

Ensure each header cell connects to its respective data cell to maintain logical reading flow for assistive technologies.

Avoiding Common Accessibility Mistakes

1. Missing Child Elements: Every tag must contain content.
2. Incorrect Tag Assignment: Mislabeling disrupts screen reader interpretation.
3. Improper Nesting: Indentation must reflect structural relationships.
4. Isolated Link Tags: Link tags must reside inside structural tags.
5. Unstructured Tables: Define and associate headers and data cells properly.

Building accessible PDFs demonstrates a commitment to inclusive design. By understanding and correctly implementing tag structures in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, users can create documents that are readable, navigable, and usable for all audiences.

Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!