file naming best practices

Best Practices for Document File Names

Conventions and tips to make filenames readable, searchable, and automation-friendly.

Prahasith Reddy avatar
Prahasith Reddy
Founder & Engineer, Document Renamer

Builder focused on AI-powered developer tools and workflow automation. Loves clean filenames and clean APIs.

Good filenames save time and reduce mistakes. Clear, consistent patterns improve searchability and make automation easier.

Principles to follow

  • Be consistent: pick a pattern and stick to it.
  • Be descriptive: include issuer, date (ISO), and type.
  • Avoid spaces and special characters; use hyphens or underscores.
  • Use ISO dates (YYYY-MM-DD) for correct lexical sorting.

Recommended patterns

  • issuer_YYYY-MM-DD_type_subject.pdf
  • type_issuer_subject_YYYY-MM.pdf

When AI helps

AI can infer missing context from document content, reducing manual effort and inconsistencies—especially in large backlogs.

Best Practices for Document File Names | AI Document Renamer | AI Document Renamer