Rapid advances in technology are transforming how we access information, making digital services faster, more intuitive, and more convenient than ever. At the same time, government agencies publish thousands of documents that residents rely on to access services and stay informed as PDFs - policies, forms, reports, guidance, and meeting materials. While PDFs can serve important purposes, they are not always the most accessible, user-friendly, or sustainable format for delivering public-facing information online.
Converting PDF content to structured HTML offers meaningful benefits - improving accessibility, enhancing usability, strengthening compliance, and supporting a more modern, future-ready digital strategy.
- Responsive Design - content adapts seamlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
- Improved Accessibility - HTML works more effectively with screen readers and assistive technologies, supporting compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA and ADA Title II requirements.
- Searchable - content can be easily searched and indexed, supporting stronger visibility and more reliable analytics.
- Translatable - HTML enables efficient language translation.
Moving to structured HTML content agencies create content that is not only accessible and user-friendly, but also AI-compatible - making information more discoverable and usable for emerging technologies.
While HTML should be the default format for most website content, there are valid exceptions based on specific agency needs. Certain materials - such as posters, printable forms, wet - signature documents, or documents that must maintain a fixed layout may still require a PDF format.