Read Barcodes from PDFs Using PDF.co and Node.js

Step 1: Open the Documentation and Code Sample

Open the Barcode Reader documentation and find the Code Samples section. Select JavaScript/Node.js.

The endpoint is:

POST https://api.pdf.co/v1/barcode/read/from/url

Save the Node.js sample as app.js and install any dependencies listed in the sample.

Step 2: Configure the Request

Provide your PDF.co API key from the PDF.co dashboard using the x-api-key request header.

Configure the request body with:

• url: A direct, accessible URL to the PDF or image.
• types: A comma-separated list of barcode types to read, such as Code128,QRCode.
• pages: The pages to scan. Page numbering starts at 0; omit this parameter to scan all pages.
• async: Use false for this introductory example.

For example:

{
  "url": "https://example.com/barcodes.pdf",
  "types": "Code128,QRCode",
  "pages": "0",
  "async": false
}

Replace the example URL with your source file’s URL. Consult the documentation for the complete list of supported barcode types.

Step 3: Run the Sample

Open a terminal in the folder containing app.js and run:

node app.js

The program sends the request and reads the JSON response.

Step 4: Review the Detected Barcodes

When error is false, inspect the barcodes array. Each detected barcode includes information such as:

• TypeName: Barcode format
• Value: Decoded content
• Page: Page index
• Rect: Position in the document
• Confidence: Recognition confidence

Compare the returned values with the source document. You can then use those values in your application to identify documents, organize records, or route files.