PDF title

Silktide tests that each PDF document has a title set in its document properties. This title is what PDF viewers can show in the window or tab, and what assistive technology announces when the document opens.

The title is metadata stored with the file - it is separate from the file name and from any heading visible on the first page.

Why this matters

When a PDF has no title, viewers and screen readers fall back to the file name - so the reader's first impression of your carefully written report is "report_final_v3.pdf". A meaningful title orients screen reader users the moment the document opens, distinguishes the document in tabs and search results, and makes it findable in document libraries.

How to fix it

1. Set the title in your authoring tool before exporting:
   • Microsoft Word: File, then Info, then Properties, then Title; export as a tagged PDF.
   • Google Docs: the document name is used as the PDF title on export.
   • Adobe InDesign: File, then File Info, then Document Title.
2. Or set it on the finished PDF in an editor such as Adobe Acrobat Pro: File, then Properties, then Description, then Title.
3. Write a title that describes the document, such as "2026 Annual Report" - not a file name or boilerplate. Documents whose title exists but is unclear are reported separately by Unclear PDF title.

How Silktide tests this

1. Read each PDF document's properties.
2. Flag the document if it has no title, or the title is empty.

This check only tests that a title exists. Whether the title is meaningful is covered by Unclear PDF title.

Learn more

• Understanding Success Criterion 2.4.2: Page Titled (WCAG 2.2)
• PDF18: Specifying the document title using the Title entry (WCAG technique)
• Unclear PDF title