Google Explains How They Rank PDFs And What It Means For SEO/GEO

Google has clarified how PDFs are processed and ranked in Google Search and AI Mode. Its systems convert PDFs into HTML for indexing, allowing text and embedded links to be processed similarly to regular web pages, although image indexing within PDFs remains uncertain. Google recommends using HTML when practical, as it offers greater flexibility and a better user experience, while searchable PDFs can still perform well in search results.