In today's fast-paced world, internet users expect speed and responsive service. They also expect instant document viewing and access. If you want to share, show, or stream your PDF files on the web, you should be aware of one fact: many PDFs used on websites are designed for high-quality print output, but they are usually not optimized for web viewing.
Large PDFs have the disadvantage of a long loading time before they are displayed. But an optimized PDF (i.e. linearized PDF), which can be displayed quickly, though not completely, helps solve this problem.
Interested to know if there is really a way to make your PDF content visible and easily accessible on the web? Find out below.
What is PDF optimization?
PDF optimization is often overlooked when creating PDF files for the web. When we talk about it, we are actually talking about "PDF linearization" also known as "Fast Web View". All of these terms describe a process of organizing a PDF file to make it easier to read in a browser.
The goal of optimizing a PDF is to allow streaming-like behavior on the web. The user can interact with the first displayed page, start reading and using it online, while the rest of the PDF document is still downloading.
Why should I optimize a PDF for web use?
As explained, a PDF optimized for web viewing is structured so that it is displayed more quickly when opened on the internet. It does not have to be fully downloaded before it can be shown.
When publishing PDF documents on the internet, we always prioritize user experience, and an optimized PDF clearly makes a difference. The elements inside the PDF are loaded more dynamically. Optimizing PDF files for the web can significantly reduce their size, boost display speed and make them more convenient for the user.
Since content is increasingly being consumed on mobile devices, the usual way of downloading first and viewing afterwards is not optimal. Also, when working in mobile browsers, a web-optimized PDF improves reliability where memory is limited.
What is the difference between a regular and a web-optimized PDF?
So, why exactly can optimized PDF files be displayed on the web faster than normal PDF files? Because all the data required to show the first page can be loaded first. This is made possible through a special organization of the PDF file itself.
A regular PDF file is basically a set of objects, and when the file is read through the web, it is accessed as a stream of bytes. It contains all the file information (the references to these streams) at the end of the file. So when the file is opened over the internet, this information cannot be read until the whole PDF file has been downloaded. If we are dealing with large files with multiple pages, this can cause inconvenience.
Unlike a regular one, if we have an an optimized PDF, it creates a specific linear structure of data at the beginning of the document. The data contains references for the first page and for the rest of the objects in the document. As a result, when the document is opened on the web, the first page can be displayed immediately, even while the other pages are still downloading. If the user goes to another page, that page can also be downloaded and displayed independently from other pages.
When should I use optimized documents?
Optimizing PDF files for local access and non-browser use is not necessary. The same is true for optimizing a single-page PDF, a small-sized one, or a text-based multi-page PDF. Additionally, linearization is also not needed when creating PDF files for long-term archiving (PDF/A files), because viewers are required to ignore linearization information for that kind of document.
In conclusion In conclusion, optimizing a PDF for web use is ideal for large, multi-page PDF documents that are meant to be viewed over the web or a network. So whenever you distribute a large PDF document online, you should always optimize the PDF first.
How do I create an optimized PDF for easy web viewing?
Optimizing PDF files for a fast web view is not as difficult as you might think. One of the most effective ways to optimize a PDF for your website is to use PDF2Go's free online tool. It will help remove unnecessary objects and compress PDF files that contain images. This is a very simple process that should take just a few minutes.
All you have to do is go to PDF2Go's Fast Web View optimization tool page. Upload the document and click "Start" "Start" to begin optimizing the PDF. After that, your PDF is ready for web viewing!
