Creating Tagged PDFs from LaTeX

Tagged PDFs contain structural and semantic information that makes them accessible to screen readers and other assistive technologies. This page explains the changes needed to compile an existing LaTeX file as a tagged PDF using lualatex.

Tagged PDF support requires compiling with lualatex (not pdflatex or xelatex).

1. Add Document Metadata

At the very top of the file — before \documentclass — add the following block:

\DocumentMetadata{
    tagging=on,
    pdfstandard=ua-2,
    lang=en,
    tagging-setup = {math/setup=mathml-SE}
}
\tagpdfsetup{math/alt/use}

This enables tagging, sets the PDF/UA-2 accessibility standard, declares the document language, and configures math tagging via MathML.

2. Load unicode-math

Immediately after the \documentclass{...} line, add:

\usepackage{unicode-math}

This package is required for proper math tagging with lualatex.

3. Add a PDF Title

Just before \begin{document}, add:

\usepackage{hyperref}
\hypersetup{pdftitle={Your Title Here}}

For the title, use whichever is present in the document:

  • The argument of \title{...}, or
  • The argument of \header{...}, or
  • A descriptive title inferred from the document content.

4. Tag Tables

If the document contains tables, each table needs its header rows or columns identified. Add a \tagpdfsetup call immediately before the relevant tabular environment:

Header row (most common) 
\tagpdfsetup{table/header-rows={1}}
\begin{tabular}{...}
  ...
\end{tabular}
Header column 
\tagpdfsetup{table/header-columns={1}}
\begin{tabular}{...}
  ...
\end{tabular}

Specify the relevant row or column numbers as a comma-separated list (e.g., {1,2} if the first two rows are headers).

5. Add Alt Text to Images

Every \includegraphics call must include an alt key with a descriptive text for screen reader users:

Without alt text (inaccessible) 
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{figure1}
With alt text (accessible) 
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth, 
alt={A graph showing the convergence of the sequence to zero as n increases.}]
{figure1}

Write a few descriptive sentences that convey the meaning or content of the image, not just its appearance.

The details, of course, may also depend on what the image is used for. Images in homework assignments may need descriptions different from those used in lecture notes.

6. Check Color Contrast

If the document uses \textcolor or similar commands, verify that the color combinations meet minimum contrast requirements (contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text).

Poor contrast 
\textcolor{red}{Important note}
\textcolor{green}{Correct answer}
Sufficient contrast 
\textcolor{blue}{Important note}
\textcolor{teal}{Correct answer}

Use a color contrast checker to verify your color choices.

Summary Checklist

Step What to add/change
1 \DocumentMetadata{...} and \tagpdfsetup{math/alt/use} at top of file
2 \usepackage{unicode-math} after \documentclass
3 \usepackage{hyperref} + \hypersetup{pdftitle={...}} before \begin{document}
4 \tagpdfsetup{table/header-rows={...}} before each table
5 alt={...} in every \includegraphics
6 Verify color contrast ratios

Template

Here is a minimal template you can use as a starting point for your documents.

\DocumentMetadata{
tagging=on,
pdfstandard=ua-2,
lang=en,
tagging-setup = {math/setup=mathml-SE}
}
\tagpdfsetup{math/alt/use}

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{unicode-math}

\usepackage{hyperref}
\hypersetup{
pdftitle={Test},
pdfauthor={Test Test},
pdfsubject={Testsubject}
}

\begin{document}

\section{Basic mathematical expressions}

If $x$ is real, then $x^{2} \geq 0$.

A matrix equation.
\[
\begin{pmatrix}0&1\\1&0\end{pmatrix}
\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}
=
\begin{pmatrix}c&d\\a&b\end{pmatrix}
\]

\end{document}

As you add more packages, be aware of incompatibiltities.

Incompatible Packages

Warning

The LaTeX Tagging Project is in active development. Many popular packages are not (yet) compatible. LuaLaTeX will often not compile at all.

You can see the current status of packages here: Taging Status of LaTeX Packages and Classes

If you run into incompatibilities, try to find a workaround using packages that are supported.

For example (as of March 16, 2026), both enumerate and enumitem are not fully compatible. You can use enumext instead, but the syntax of your enumeration environments will need to be slightly adjusted.

Further Reading