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Last updated: 16 Apr 2025

govuk-design-guide: attachment


layout: component-documentation sectionKey: Components eleventyNavigation: parent: Components

Step 1: Duplicate and rename this file to the proposed component you want to include in the Publishing Design Guide website.

When duplicating and renaming this file use lowercase and replace any spaces with a dash (ie. -)

Step 2: Set "eleventyExcludeFromCollections" to "false". This will ensure that the code snippet is commented out and this page will be display withinin the Publishing Design Guide.

eleventyExcludeFromCollections: false

Step 3: Input data points according to fields below to the best of your ability. Any fields without any data points will not be displayed on the website.

Name of the component

This is the name of the component (ex. Attachment). It is required to display the title on the page, in the meta data, and in the left-hand navigation menu of the components page.

title: Attachment

Description of the component

This briefly describes what the component is. It is required to display the description on the page, and in the meta description.

description: The attachment component allows users to download documents and presents information about a document. It also allows users to request an accessible format.

Embedding the figma file of the component

This will display a Figma embed on the page.

To add a Figma embed, copy only the URL within the embed snippet.

figmaLink: #Delete this comment before entering the Figma embed URL of the Figma representaiton of this component.

When to use this component

Briefly describe the situation(s) when to use this component.

You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

whenToUse: This component is exclusively used on guidance pages with document attachments

When not to use this component

Briefly describe the situation(s) when not to use this component.

You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

whenNotToUse: #Delete this comment before entering when not to use this component.

How the component works

Briefly descibe how this component works. For instance, listing out what happens when an end-user interacts with this component.

You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

howItWorks: 'This component displays a link to a document that is attached to GOV.UK content along with a thumbnail and relevant file data (title of the document, format type, file size, link to view online, and request accessible format details).

It is intended to be rendered in Govspeak and as an attachment ‘preview’ in Content Publisher. It is not as rich in features as the attachment rendering provided by Whitehall, it lacks support for multiple languages, CSV previews and publication fields.

View this component and all its variations in the Component Guide (opens in a new tab).'

Variations for this component

List out any variations that exist for this component by providing (1) the name of said variation and (2) a brief description of that variation.

variations:

# To add additional variations duplicate the the fields below (adhering to the formating) but increase the count by one integer.

0:

title: With number of page

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

1:

title: Opendocument

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

2:

title: Help text disabled

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

3:

title: Embedded in govspeak

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

4:

title: With contact email

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

5:

title: With contact email and ga4 tracking

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

6:

title: With data attributes

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

7:

title: With margin bottom

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

8:

title: Command paper numbered

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

9:

title: Command paper unnumbered

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

10:

title: Act paper numbered

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

11:

title: Act paper unnumbered

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

12:

title: Hide order a copy

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

13:

title: With custom heading level

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

14:

title: With custom thumbnail

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

15:

title: Pdf attachment

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

16:

title: With preview link

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

17:

title: Html attachment

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

18:

title: External attachment

description:

# You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

#Delete this comment before entering a description of variation.

Evidence and insights for this component

List out all past documentation/supporting material with regards to or realted to this component. It can include (1) past design documentation, (2) research findings, and (3) presentations.

insights:

To add additional insights duplicate the the fields below (adhering to the formating) but increase the count by one integer.

0: # A description is REQUIRED in order for this information to render on the page. date: #Delete this comment before entering the date when the document was published. description: # You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###). #Delete this comment before entering a brief summary about the document being referred. title: #Delete this comment before entering the name of the insight document. link: #Delete this comment before entering the URL of the insight document. documentFormat: #Delete this comment before entering the format of the insight document. Example: (1) Google Docs, (2) Google Sheets, and (3) Google Slides.

Accessibilty criteria for this component

List out the accessibility for this component.

You MUST wrap this in single quotation marks (ie. ' '), since markdown can be used to enter this information. To create a heading, use three hashes (ie. ###).

accessibilty: 'The thumbnail image, and the link wrapping it, must not focusable or shown to screenreaders.

Links in the component must:

  • accept focus

  • be focusable with a keyboard

  • be usable with a keyboard

  • indicate when they have focus

  • change in appearance when touched (in the touch-down state)

  • change in appearance when hovered

  • be usable with touch

  • be usable with voice commands

  • have visible text

  • have meaningful text

  • if the link is intended for downloading a file rather than directing to a webpage, specify the file type and size

Considerations and criteria taken from the Component Guide (opens in a new tab).'

Other design systems

List out all the other design systems that have documented this exact same component. This includes the GOV.UK Design System, along with other UK government departments.

designSystems:

To add additional design systems duplicate the the fields below (adhering to the formating) but increase the count by one integer.

0: # Both title and link are REQUIRED in order to display this information on the page. title: #Delete this comment before entering the name of the Publishing Design Guide. link: #Delete this comment before entering the URL of the corresponding Publishing Design Guide.

Existing issues with this component

List of all the issues that are associated with this component, (1) containing the title used to describe the issue on GitHub, and (2) the link to the GitHub issue itself.

issues:

To add additional issues duplicate the the fields below (adhering to the formating) but increase the count by one integer.