What is PDF linearization (Fast Web View)?

PDF linearization reorganizes the internal structure of a PDF so it can be displayed page-by-page as it downloads, rather than requiring the entire file to download first. This means users see the first page almost instantly when viewing PDFs on websites or in browsers. It's also called 'Fast Web View' or 'Optimized for Web'.

What are the benefits for web-hosted PDFs?

Linearized PDFs provide a much better user experience on websites: (1) First page displays immediately without waiting for full download, (2) Users can start reading while the rest loads in background, (3) Lower bounce rates as users don't wait for slow downloads, (4) Better mobile experience on slower connections, (5) Smooth progressive loading page-by-page. Essential for online documentation, reports, and any web-hosted PDFs.

Does linearization increase file size?

Linearization typically adds 1-5% to file size due to reorganizing internal structures. However, you can choose compression levels: 'Preserve' keeps original compression (slight size increase), 'Balanced' applies moderate compression (often reduces overall size), 'Aggressive' maximizes compression (significantly smaller files). The web performance benefits usually far outweigh the small size increase.

Will linearized PDFs work in all PDF viewers?

Yes! Linearized PDFs are fully compatible with all PDF viewers and readers. The linearization is an internal optimization that doesn't affect how the PDF displays or its content. All viewers can open linearized PDFs - they just benefit from faster loading in web browsers and viewers that support progressive display.

Is PDF linearization safe and private?

Absolutely! All linearization happens directly in your browser using QPDF WebAssembly. Your PDFs never leave your device - no uploads to any server. Linearization only reorganizes the internal structure for faster web viewing; it doesn't modify content, images, text, or metadata (unless you choose compression). Your documents remain 100% private and secure.

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Linearize PDF

Linearize PDFs for fast web viewing (Fast Web View). Optimized PDFs load page-by-page as they download, allowing users to view the first page immediately without waiting for the entire file to download. Perfect for websites, online documents, and web applications.

or Drag & drop files here

Max 20 files•Max file size: 100MB

Supported formats: .pdf, application/pdf

Linearize PDF - Optimize for Fast Web Viewing

Transform your PDFs for lightning-fast web viewing with linearization (also called Fast Web View). Linearized PDFs are reorganized internally so they can be displayed page-by-page as they download, rather than requiring the entire file to download first. This dramatically improves user experience for web-hosted PDFs, making them ideal for websites, online documentation, and cloud storage.

Key Features:

✓Instant first-page display - users can start reading immediately
✓Page-at-a-time loading for smooth progressive viewing
✓Optional compression to reduce file size while linearizing
✓Preserve, balance, or aggressively compress during optimization
✓Batch process up to 20 PDFs simultaneously
✓100% browser-based using QPDF - no server uploads
✓Complete privacy - files never leave your device

How to linearize your PDF:

Click "Select PDFs" or drag and drop your PDF files
Choose compression level (Preserve, Balanced, or Aggressive)
Click "Linearize PDFs" to start optimization
Download your optimized, web-ready PDFs

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