#import "../../../components/index.typ": docs-category

#show: docs-category.with(
  title: "PDF",
  description: "Documentation for Typst's PDF export target.",
  category: "pdf",
  scope: pdf,
)

PDF files focus on accurately describing documents visually, but also have facilities for annotating their structure. This hybrid approach makes them a good fit for document exchange: They render exactly the same on every device, but also support extraction of a document's content and structure (at least to an extent). Unlike PNG files, PDFs are not bound to a specific resolution. Hence, you can view them at any size without incurring a loss of quality.

= Exporting as PDF <exporting-as-pdf>
== Command Line <command-line>
PDF is Typst's default export format. Running the `compile` or `watch` subcommand without specifying a format will create a PDF. When exporting to PDF, you have the following configuration options:

- Which @pdf:pdf-standards[PDF standards] Typst should enforce conformance with by specifying `--pdf-standard` followed by one or multiple comma-separated standards. Valid standards are `1.4`, `1.5`, `1.6`, `1.7`, `2.0`, `a-1b`, `a-1a`, `a-2b`, `a-2u`, `a-2a`, `a-3b`, `a-3u`, `a-3a`, `a-4`, `a-4f`, `a-4e`, and `ua-1`. By default, Typst outputs PDF-1.7-compliant files.

- You can disable PDF tagging completely with `--no-pdf-tags`. By default, Typst will always write _Tagged PDF_ to provide a baseline level of accessibility. Using this flag, you can turn tags off. This will make your file inaccessible and prevent conformance with accessible conformance levels of PDF/A and all parts of PDF/UA.

- Which pages to export by specifying `--pages` followed by a comma-separated list of numbers or dash-separated number ranges. Ranges can be half-open. Example: `2,3,7-9,11-`.

== Web App <web-app>
Click the quick download button at the top right to export a PDF with default settings. For further configuration, click "File" > "Export as" > "PDF" or click the downwards-facing arrow next to the quick download button and select "Export as PDF". When exporting to PDF, you have the following configuration options:

- Which PDF standards Typst should enforce conformance with. By default, Typst outputs PDF-1.7-compliant files. You can choose the PDF version freely between 1.4 and 2.0. Valid additional standards are `A-1b`, `A-1a`, `A-2b`, `A-2u`, `A-2a`, `A-3b`. `A-3u`, `A-3a`, `A-4`, `A-4f`, `A-4e`, and `UA-1`.

- Which pages to export. Valid options are "All pages", "Current page", and "Custom ranges". Custom ranges are a comma-separated list of numbers or dash-separated number ranges. Ranges can be half-open. Example: `2,3,7-9,11-`.

= PDF standards <pdf-standards>
The International Standards Organization (ISO) has published the base PDF standard and various standards that extend it to make PDFs more suitable for specific use-cases. By default, Typst exports PDF 1.7 files. Adobe Acrobat 8 and later as well as all other commonly used PDF viewers are compatible with this PDF version.

Some features of Typst may not be available depending on the PDF standard you choose. You can combine compatible PDF/A and PDF/UA standards. Notably, PDF/UA-1 and PDF/A-4 are mutually incompatible since the former requires PDF 1.7 or earlier and the latter requires PDF 2.0.

== PDF versions <pdf-versions>
Typst supports five different PDF versions: 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 (default), and 2.0. You can choose each of these versions for your document export. However, based on the features you used there may be a minimum version. Likewise, the standards you target can limit which versions you can choose (see below for more).

Here is a list on how each new version improves over PDF 1.4 for Typst documents:

- *PDF 1.5* (2003): Improved color management, text extraction, table accessibility, reflow, and emoji fonts
- *PDF 1.6* (2004): More flexible links
- *PDF 1.7* (2006): Allows @pdf.attach[attachments], improved reflow
- *PDF 2.0* (2017): Improved both metadata and tag semantics for accessibility

The software used to read your file must support your PDF version. Under normal circumstances, this poses no problem, but it can be a source of errors when working with older hardware. For general exchange, we recommend keeping the default PDF 1.7 setting or choosing PDF 2.0.

When using PDF files as @image[images] in your document, the export PDF version must equal or exceed the image file versions.

== PDF/UA <pdf-ua>
Typst supports writing PDF/UA-conformant files. PDF/UA files are designed for _@guides:accessibility:basics[Universal Access]._ When you choose this PDF standard, Typst will run additional checks when exporting your document. These checks will make sure that you are following accessibility best practices. For example, it will make sure that all your images come with alternative descriptions.

Note that there are some rules in PDF/UA that are crucial for accessibility but cannot be automatically checked. Hence, when exporting a PDF/UA-1 document, make sure you did the following:

- If your document is written in a different language than English, make sure @text.lang[set the text language] before any content.
- Make sure to use Typst's semantic elements (like @heading[headings], @figure[figures], and @list[lists]) when appropriate instead of defining custom constructs. This lets Typst know (and export) the role a construct plays in the document. See @guides:accessibility[the Accessibility guide] for more details.
- Do not exclusively use contrast, color, format, or layout to communicate an idea. Use text or alternative descriptions instead of or in addition to these elements.
- Wrap all decorative elements without a semantic meaning in @pdf.artifact.
- Do not use images of text. Instead, insert the text directly into your markup.

Typst currently only supports part one (PDF/UA-1) which is based on PDF 1.7 (2006). When exporting to PDF/UA-1, be aware that you will need to manually provide @math:accessibility[alternative descriptions of mathematics] in natural language.

New accessibility features were added to PDF 2.0 (2017). When set to PDF 2.0 export, Typst will leverage some of these features. PDF 2.0 and PDF/UA-1, however, are mutually incompatible. For accessible documents, we currently recommend exporting to PDF/UA-1 instead of PDF 2.0 for the additional checks and greater compatibility. The second part of PDF/UA is designed for PDF 2.0, but not yet supported by Typst.

== PDF/A <pdf-a>
Typst optionally supports emitting PDF/A-conformant files. PDF/A files are geared towards maximum compatibility with current and future PDF tooling. They do not rely on difficult-to-implement or proprietary features and contain exhaustive metadata. This makes them suitable for long-term archival.

The PDF/A Standard has multiple versions (_parts_ in ISO terminology) and most parts have multiple profiles that indicate the file's conformance level. You can target one part and conformance level at a time. Currently, Typst supports these PDF/A output profiles:

- *PDF/A-1b:* The _basic_ conformance level of ISO 19005-1. This version of PDF/A is based on PDF 1.4 (2001) and results in self-contained, archivable PDF files. As opposed to later parts of the PDF/A standard, transparency is not allowed in PDF/A-1 files.

- *PDF/A-1a:* This is the _accessible_ conformance level that builds on the basic level PDF/A-1b. To conform to this level, your file must be an accessible _Tagged PDF_ file. Note that accessibility is improved with later parts as not all PDF accessibility features are available for PDF 1.4 files. Furthermore, all text in the file must consist of known Unicode code points.

- *PDF/A-2b:* The _basic_ conformance level of ISO 19005-2. This version of PDF/A is based on PDF 1.7 (2006) and results in self-contained, archivable PDF files.

- *PDF/A-2u:* This is the _Unicode-mappable_ conformance level that builds on the basic level A-2b. It also adds rules that all text in the document must consist of known Unicode code points. If possible, always prefer this standard over PDF/A-2b.

- *PDF/A-2a:* This is the _accessible_ conformance level that builds on the Unicode-mappable level A-2u. This conformance level also adds two requirements: Your file must be an accessible _Tagged PDF_ file. Typst automatically adds tags to help you reach this conformance level. Also pay attention to the Accessibility Sections throughout the reference and the @guides:accessibility[Accessibility Guide] when targeting this conformance level. Finally, PDF/A-2a forbids you from using code points in the #link("https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Use_Areas")[Unicode Private Use area]. If you want to build an accessible file, also consider additionally targeting PDF/UA-1, which enables more automatic accessibility checks.

- *PDF/A-3b:* The _basic_ conformance level of ISO 19005-3. This version of PDF/A is based on PDF 1.7 (2006) and results in archivable PDF files that can contain arbitrary other related files as @pdf.attach[attachments]. The only difference between it and PDF/A-2b is the capability to attach non-PDF/A-conformant files.

- *PDF/A-3u:* This is the _Unicode-mappable_ conformance level that builds on the basic level A-3b. Just like PDF/A-2b, this requires all text to consist of known Unicode code points. These rules do not apply to attachments. If possible, always prefer this standard over PDF/A-3b.

- *PDF/A-3a:* This is the _accessible_ conformance level that builds on the Unicode-mappable level A-3u. Just like PDF/A-2a, this requires files to be accessible _Tagged PDF_ and to not use characters from the Unicode Private Use area. Just like before, these rules do not apply to attachments.

- *PDF/A-4:* The basic conformance level of ISO 19005-4. This version of PDF/A is based on PDF 2.0 (2017) and results in self-contained, archivable PDF files. PDF/A-4 has no parts relating to accessibility. Instead, the topic has been elaborated on more in the dedicated PDF/UA standard. PDF/A-4 files can conform to PDF/UA-2 (currently not supported in Typst).

- *PDF/A-4f:* The _embedded files_ conformance level that builds on the basic level A-4. Files conforming to this level can contain arbitrary other related files as @pdf.attach[attachments], just as files conforming to part 3 of ISO 19005. The only difference between it and PDF/A-4 is the capability to attach non-PDF/A-conformant files.

- *PDF/A-4e:* The _engineering_ conformance level that builds on the embedded files level A-4f. Files conforming to this level can contain 3D objects. Typst does not support 3D content, so this is functionally equivalent to PDF/A-4f from a Typst perspective.

If you want to target PDF/A but are unsure about which particular setting to use, there are some good rules of thumb. First, you must determine your *part,* that's the "version number" of the standard. Ask yourself these questions:

+ *Does pre-2006 software or equipment need to be able to read my file?* If so, choose part one (PDF/A-1).

+ *If not, does my file need @pdf.attach[attachments]?* If so, you must choose part three (PDF/A-3) or the embedded files level of part four (PDF/A-4f).

+ *Does your file need to use features introduced in PDF 2.0?* Currently, use of PDF 2.0 features in Typst is limited to minor improvements in accessibility, e.g. for the @title[title element]. If you can do without these improvements, maximize compatibility by choosing part two (when you don't need attachments) or part three (when you do need attachments). If you rely on PDF 2.0 features, use part four.

Now, you only need to choose a *conformance level* (the lowercase letter at the end).

- *If you decided on part one, two, or three,* you should typically choose the accessible conformance level of your part, indicated by a lowercase `a` at the end. If your document is inherently inaccessible, e.g. an artist's portfolio that cannot be boiled down to alternative descriptions, choose conformance level `u` instead. Only if this results in a compiler error, e.g. because you used code points from the Unicode Private Use Area, use the basic level `b`.

- *If you have chosen part four,* you should choose the basic conformance level (PDF/A-4) except when needing to embed files.

When choosing between exporting PDF/A and regular PDF, keep in mind that PDF/A files contain additional metadata, and that some readers will prevent the user from modifying a PDF/A file.

= PDF-specific functionality <pdf-specific-functionality>
Typst exposes PDF-specific functionality in the global `pdf` module. See below for the definitions it contains.

This module contains some functions without a final API. They are designed to enhance accessibility for documents with complex tables. This includes @pdf.table-summary[`table-summary`], @pdf.header-cell[`header-cell`], and @pdf.data-cell[`data-cell`]. All of these functions will be removed in a future Typst release, either through integration into table functions or through full removal. You can enable these functions by passing `--features a11y-extras` or setting the `TYPST_FEATURES` environment variable to `a11y-extras`. In the web app, these features are not available at this time.
