A sane file-naming convention for PDFs

The difference between a findable archive and a black hole is often just naming. A simple convention pays off for years.

A pattern that works

Lead with the date in YYYY-MM-DD so files sort chronologically, then the type and the party: 2026-03-14-invoice-acme.pdf.

Rules of thumb

• No spaces or odd characters — use hyphens.
• Most-important detail first.
• Be consistent, even when it feels tedious.