PDF links are usually annotations with destinations
A visible word or button can be associated with a PDF link annotation whose actual destination is different from the nearby text. An inspection should therefore show both the parser-exposed destination and any confidently associated anchor text instead of assuming they are identical.
Separate external links, internal destinations, and unsafe actions
External URI links can point to web addresses. Internal destinations can jump to a page or named location in the same PDF. Other action types may launch files or invoke behavior that should remain inert during inspection.
- Do not automatically open destinations while auditing a document.
- Treat file and script-like actions as untrusted.
- A named internal destination may be detectable even when the target page cannot be resolved.
Extract and review links page by page
Choose the PDF, use the all-page preview for context, then review each inert destination with its source page and anchor evidence. Copy the list or export TXT/CSV only after checking that the records represent what you intended to audit.
Printed URLs and scans are different
A URL printed as pixels on a scanned page is not automatically a PDF link annotation. This workflow does not OCR images, visit websites, test redirects, check reputation, or confirm whether a destination is currently reachable.