How this works in your browser
Each of the six slots is an independent piece of text positioned against the page edges using the margin you set, drawn into the content stream by pdf-lib as real vector text. Placeholders are resolved per page at generation time: {page} becomes that page's own number, {total} the document length, and {date} the date on your device, all substituted as literal text rather than left as live fields. Using the standard PDF base fonts means nothing needs embedding, so the file barely grows and the text renders identically in every reader while staying selectable and searchable.
Add Header & Footer vs. traditional online converters
| Feature | Add Header & Footer (in-browser) | Traditional online converters |
|---|---|---|
| File upload required | No - never leaves your device | Yes - file is sent to a server |
| Processing queue | None - starts instantly | Often, especially at peak times |
| Watermark on output | Never | Common on free plans |
| Usage limits | None - free, unlimited use | Often capped per day or file size |
| Works offline once loaded | Yes, for most tools | No - requires a live connection |
| Account required | No | Often, for anything beyond a trial |
How to use Add Header & Footer
- 1
Open the Add Header & Footer tool
Go to tools.slaytic.com and open the Header & Footer tool. No sign-up or account required.
- 2
Fill the slots you need
Type text into any of the left, centre and right slots for the header and footer, using {page}, {total} and {date} where you want them substituted.
- 3
Set the styling and save
Choose font size, colour and margin distance from the edge, then download the finished document.
Common ways to use Add Header & Footer
Branding a report
Put a company or project name in the header and a page count in the footer across an entire document.
Dating an issued document
Stamp the issue date on every page so a printed copy can always be traced to a version.
Labelling document status
Carry a reference number, revision or classification on every page for filing and review.
Frequently asked questions
What placeholders can I use?
{page} inserts the current page number, {total} inserts the total page count, and {date} inserts today's date. Combine them freely, for example "Page {page} of {total} - {date}".
Can I have different headers on odd and even pages?
The current tool applies the same header and footer to all pages. For alternating headers, use the tool twice: once for odd pages (extract, add header, reinsert) though this requires manual page management.
Can I skip the header on the first page?
Yes. A "Skip first page" option is available for documents where the first page is a title or cover that should not have a running header.
How is this different from Add Page Numbers?
Page Numbers does one job well: a clean sequence in a corner. Header and Footer gives you six positioned slots for arbitrary text, with placeholders for numbering. If all you want is numbers, the dedicated tool is quicker; if you need a document title, a date and numbering together, use this.
What date does {date} insert?
The date at the moment you generate the file, taken from your own device. It is stamped as fixed text rather than a live field, so it will not update later, which is what you want on an issued document.
Will the header collide with my content?
It can if your pages already use the margin area. The margin setting controls distance from the page edge, so increase it to sit further into the whitespace, and check a page with dense content before saving.
Is my document uploaded anywhere?
No. Headers and footers are stamped in inside your browser tab.