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Deriving PDF to HTML, version 1.2

The original derivation-to-HTML specification predates the establishment of the Well-Tagged PDF (WTPDF) specification as the reference model for authoring and processing Tagged PDF.

This matters because the initial release of the Derivation algorithm represented practical guidance written before PDF’s ecosystem had a single, fully formalized interpretation of Well-Tagged PDF.

Version 1.2 is the first version of this algorithm that is fully aligned with the new model. The new document also explicitly addresses math semantics, including MathML and formula handling, which is a key part of reusable conversion for derivations oriented towards accessibility needs.

PDF Association staff

By PDF Association staff
September 2026

Deriving PDF to HTML, version 1.2


The original derivation-to-HTML specification predates the establishment of the Well-Tagged PDF (WTPDF) specification as the reference model for authoring and processing Tagged PDF.

This matters because the initial release of the Derivation algorithm represented practical guidance written before PDF’s ecosystem had a single, fully formalized interpretation of Well-Tagged PDF.

Version 1.2 is the first version of this algorithm that is fully aligned with the new model. The new document also explicitly addresses math semantics, including MathML and formula handling, which is a key part of reusable conversion for derivations oriented towards accessibility needs.

PDF Association staff
By PDF Association staff
September 2026

What you need to know today.


September 2026 by Benson Hendall (PDFSmart)
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Every save rewrites a PDF. What usually survives an ordinary compress or merge is the XMP declaration, not the structure … Read more

Article

September 2026 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association has published two new PDF/UA-1 Technical Notes on the Use of ActualText on Figure structure elements and … Read more

PDF Association news

August 2026 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association announces the publication of its specification for Brotli compression in PDF.

PDF Association news

Recent articles

Informative (non-commercial) articles by PDF Association members and staff.


September 2026 by Vijayshree Vethantham (Continual Engine)
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Higher education institutions create and share countless PDFs, from course materials and syllabi to research papers, forms, and handbooks. Learn … Read more


September 2026 by Boris Doubrov (Dual Lab sprl)
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PDF isn’t inherently a problem for AI – the real challenge is how documents are ingested. Boris Doubrov explains why … Read more


August 2026 by Vijayshree Vethantham (Continual Engine)
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PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF designed for the long-term preservation of electronic documents. It helps ensure documents remain … Read more


August 2026 by Benson Hendall (PDFSmart)
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For twenty years, the logical structure inside a tagged PDF served one audience: assistive technology. Then the main reader of … Read more


August 2026 by PDF Association staff
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From the PDF/A Competence Centre to the PDF Association: two of the founders on how it all started.


July 2026 by Joseph Barbier (Guest Speaker)
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Discover how R users can incorporate PDF accessibility checks into reproducible reporting workflows for more accessible documents.

News from the PDF Association

Announcements, publications, events and other updates.


October 2026 by PDF Association staff
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The Board of Directors for 2026-2028 adds axes4’s Markus Erle, and has reelected Apryse’s Raf Hens as Chair and callas … Read more


September 2026 by PDF Association staff
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This updated algorithm by the Deriving HTML from PDF TWG is substantially expanded and improved to take advantage of Well-Tagged … Read more


September 2026 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association has published two new PDF/UA-1 Technical Notes on the Use of ActualText on Figure structure elements and … Read more


August 2026 by PDF Association staff
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We remember a PDF Association co-founder and former Board chair.


August 2026 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association announces the publication of its specification for Brotli compression in PDF.


July 2026 by Alexandra Oettler
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How can content and information be extracted from PDF documents using AI applications, such as large language models (LLMs), and … Read more

News from PDF Association members

PDF Association members post updates on their software and services.


June 2023 by Open Preservation Foundation
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OPF is excited to announce the launch of the new PDF File Checker! Building on the great work done by … Read more


June 2023 by Lindsey Schroeder (Datalogics)
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Datalogics, Inc. has added two new video tutorials for its flagship PDF SDK, the Adobe PDF Library, to its new-and-improved … Read more


June 2023 by Apryse
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iText 8 is launches in its first release as part of the Apryse family.


June 2023 by Thomas Zellmann (Foxit Corporation)
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Deploy the AI capabilities of ChatGPT on PDF files within Foxit PDF Editor Cloud.


June 2023 by Datalogics
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2 new API Tools expand upon the many ways in which pdfRest’s powerful toolkit helps optimize PDFs for specific intended … Read more


May 2023 by Compart GmbH
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As an active user of Salesforce for managing contacts and donations, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein was looking for a more … Read more

Members‘ case studies

PDF Association members‘ case studies showcase implementations of PDF technology in daily business operations around the world.


October 2026 by Anne Lazarakis (Iron Software)
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Developer tutorials reveal how PDF requirements evolve from simple generation into production workflows involving scale, accessibility, compliance and automation.


September 2026 by callas software GmbH
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Impressu uses pdfToolbox automation to solve practical production problems, from giving sales teams clearer file information to updating 1,500 clinical … Read more


September 2026 by Diana Kosovac (PDFix)
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PDFix replaced Adobe in a production pipeline serving millions of researchers. Here’s what that looks like at scale.


September 2026 by axes4 GmbH
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Driven by legal requirements, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment embedded PDF accessibility into daily work, with Word templates, training, … Read more


September 2026 by Frank Mittelbach (The LaTeX Project)
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An example of how modern LaTeX provides a viable roadmap for STEM authors to create accessible PDFs, even for very … Read more


August 2026 by axes4 GmbH
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Telekom MMS integrates digital accessibility directly into document creation. With axesWord, employees can independently create accessible documents and efficiently meet … Read more

Members‘ white papers

PDF Association members‘ white papers inform their customers, partners and suppliers with technical or marketplace education, insights into their philosophy, solutions and technologies.


March 2026 by PDFSmart
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Most enterprise AI initiatives are failing not because of the model — but because of the document. This whitepaper examines … Read more


January 2022 by Jonathan Malone-McGrew (Solimar Systems)
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Ryan McAbee and Pat McGrew share their thoughts on relevant Keypoint Intelligence research during this Solimar-sponsored webinar.


February 2021 by Carsten Luedtge (Compart GmbH)
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The digital-first approach in document creation enables the uncomplicated, fast switch between paper-based and digital communication.

PDF in the Wild

Our (occasionally lighthearted) monthly post covering items of interest to PDF’s technical community.


September 2026 by PDF Association staff
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First, video games. Then AI. Now Linux in PDF? | University of Illinois Library wins grant to develop EA-PDF implementations … Read more


August 2026 by PDF Association staff
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C’mon, AI – PDF isn’t just about text! | Supports just 2 of 4 operators? That’s not a PDF parser! … Read more


July 2026 by PDF Association staff
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PDF should not be your “tokenpocalypse” | LibreOffice comes out swinging for open formats | Android Auto brings PDF “reading” … Read more


June 2026 by PDF Association staff
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Porcelain PDF | That’s one way to burn AI tokens! | Big Tech adds support for accessible math according to … Read more


May 2026 by PDF Association staff
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EAA gets PDF/UA | ISO TC 42 publishes HDR standard | Google’s Gemini now creates PDFs, but … | PDF … Read more


April 2026 by PDF Association staff
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PDF Week London 2026 is almost here! | veraPDF 1.30 released | PDF is trending on GitHub | PDF/UA-1 gets its … Read more

PDF in the News

When PDF files feature in the news, we’ll offer our take.


December 2025 by Peter Wyatt
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We report on the technical aspects of the PDF files released by the US Department of Justice in connection with … Read more


October 2020 by Duff Johnson
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A controversial PDF tied to Hunter Biden highlights key digital forensics issues: PDFs are representations, not originals, and without metadata … Read more


January 2020 by Duff Johnson
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“I’m sorry, Derek, but, now that Kelsey has learned how to convert JPEGs into PDFs, we can’t justify keeping you … Read more


September 2019 by Duff Johnson
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A poorly scanned PDF of Trump’s Ukraine call shows the risks of print-based workflows. Dirty scans, weak OCR, and missing … Read more


July 2019 by Duff Johnson
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After an impressive effort the Mueller Report is now available as a free EPUB file. What might it have been … Read more


April 2019 by Duff Johnson
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The DoJ quietly reposted the Mueller Report. We analyze their repost, noting the changes (from a PDF perspective).

PDF Association news for members

Members-only content requires a login to pdfa.org.


May 2026 by PDF Association staff
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PDF Association members can now add contact details and social links to their profile, making author connections and networking easier.


March 2026 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association supports interoperability by sharing extensions and declarations via GitHub, inviting members to contribute standardized, machine-readable data.


March 2026 by PDF Association staff
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Gain insights into the PDF marketplace via this exclusive report.


January 2026 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association is launching a new benefit specifically designed for Individual members.


July 2025 by PDF Association staff
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This recently published report from ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 34 presents an analysis of related standards, the current status and … Read more


June 2025 by PDF Association staff
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Technical and Solution posters are a great way to showcase your ideas and interact with attendees at PDF Days Europe … Read more

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