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The unnamed download

A download link does not identify the file or its format.

Short journal · Original editorial · Digital things that explain themselves

A download link does not identify the file or its format.

An interface makes a promise through its wording. A useful label tells people what will happen and a useful result tells them what did happen. Test the smallest interaction in plain language before decorating it with confidence.

Write a label that names both the document and the file type.

You can stop after one small attempt. The purpose is to make a particular choice clearer, not to create a new obligation.

Try a question

What would you notice after trying this in one small, real situation?