PDF Search API converts scanned PDF documents (where pages are fully or partially made from scanned images) into a text-searchable PDF. It uses OCR and adds an invisible text layer on top of your document that can be used for text search, text indexing, etc.
Web API engines work in any programming language: PHP, Javascript, C#, .NET and ASP.NET, Java, Visual Basic, and many others.
All the documents sent through our Web API are encrypted and secure. To learn more, please read our security page https://pdf.co/security
PDF Search API Benefits
No Licenses Required
PDF.co web API uses a credit-based payment. You can get credits through a subscription plan or a credit pack. To learn more about the available subscription plans and credit packs, visit here.
Multiple Programming Languages Support
PDF.co API platform supports multiple programming languages that programmers can use: PHP, Javascript, Java, C#, .NET and ASP.NET, Visual Basic, and others.
Easy Integration
Our QR code online scanner includes a built-in OCR, and it includes Zapier, Integromat, UiPath, and BluePrism plugins. You can easily connect with the most popular applications through our 300+ API integrations.
PDF Search API Sample & Demo
We have this sample scanned PDF to be used for this demo.
The code snippets below are in different programming languages. Using those code snippets, you can convert the sample scanned PDF file above into a text-searchable PDF.
The result would look like this.
Before we proceed with the code, let us first check the /v1/pdf/makesearchable parameters and their uses.
Endpoint
| URL: | https://api.pdf.co/v1/pdf/makesearchable |
| Method: | POST |
| Parameter | Description |
| url | required. Link to the source file. |
| pages | optional. Comma-separated list of page indices (or ranges) to process. IMPORTANT: the very first page starts with 0 (zero). To set a range use the dash –, for example: 0, 2-5, 7-. |
| expiration | optional. Output link expiration in minutes. Default is 60 (i.e. 60 minutes or 1 hour). After this delay generated output file(s) (if any) will be auto-removed from PDF.co temporary files storage. Max allowed expiration period depends on your current subscription plan. To store permanent input files (e.g. re-usable images, pdf, documents), please use PDF.co built-in Files Storage instead. |
| encrypt | optional. Enable encryption for the output file: true or false |
| async | optional. Runs processing asynchronously. Returns jobId to use with job/check: true or false |
| name | optional. Output file name. |
| profiles | optional. Must be a String. Set custom configuration. See profiles examples here |
cURL Code Snippet
curl --location --request POST 'https://api.pdf.co/v1/pdf/makesearchable' \
--header 'x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data-raw '{
"url": "https://bytescout-com.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/demo-files/cloud-api/pdf-make-searchable/sample.pdf",
"lang": "eng",
"pages": "",
"name": "result.pdf",
"password": "",
"async": "false",
"encrypt": false,
"profiles": ""
}'
The PDF Search API cURL source code samples are available here.
Let’s see the PDF Search API in action.
The PDF Search API JavaScript source code samples are available here.
The PDF Search API Python source code samples are available here.
The PDF Search API Java source code samples are available here.
The PDF Search API C# source code samples are available here.
The PDF Search API PHP source code samples are available here.
