Cross-Reference Table
PDF Cross-Reference Table
An internal PDF structure that maps object numbers to their byte offsets, enabling random access to objects.
Technical Detail
Cross-Reference Table uses a logical structure tree embedded in the PDF to define headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and figure captions. Screen readers traverse this tree rather than the visual layout, enabling correct reading order even in complex multi-column designs. The tag structure follows the PDF/UA (ISO 14289) standard and maps closely to HTML semantics, making well-tagged PDFs navigable with keyboard-only and assistive technology.
Example
```javascript
// Cross-Reference Table: PDF manipulation example
import { PDFDocument } from 'pdf-lib';
const pdfDoc = await PDFDocument.load(fileBytes);
const pages = pdfDoc.getPages();
console.log(`Pages: ${pages.length}`);
```
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Related Terms
AcroForm
Annotation
Bates Numbering
Bookmark
Color Management (PDF)
Content Stream
Cross-Posting
Cross Product
Digital Signature
Document Catalog
Encryption
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Font Embedding
Form Field
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XFA