PDF to XML
Convert the contents of a PDF into structured XML. Headings, paragraphs and tables become tagged elements that other software or databases can read directly.
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Extract the contents of a PDF into structured XML: text blocks and table rows are tagged as elements, so the result can be imported into a database, an ERP system or a CMS instead of being retyped by hand.
PDF is a format for printing, not a data format - the text is positioned absolutely and can be read from the file, but it does not know what a "column" or a "total" is. This tool reconstructs a reasonable element structure from the layout, which works well for forms and simple tables and needs review for complex multi-column documents. Non-Latin text is extracted as-is when the PDF embeds the required fonts.
How to extract PDF content as XML
Add your PDF
Convert to XML
Review the structure and download the file
FAQ
Is the XML a perfect representation of the document?
No. The structure is inferred from the layout, so it is close for forms and simple tables and approximate for complex multi-column pages. Treat it as a strong first draft, not as a certified conversion.
What does the XML contain?
Text content grouped into elements with position information. Images are not embedded - use the PDF to image tool if you need the graphics as files.
Does it work with scanned PDFs?
No. A scan is a picture of text, so there is nothing to extract. Such documents need OCR first.
Are password-protected files supported?
Only documents that open without a password. Remove the protection first if you own the file.
Can I import the result directly?
The XML is well-formed and can be parsed by standard tools, but you will normally map its elements to your own schema before importing.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Extraction happens in your browser.
What does the XML actually contain?
The text extracted from the document, wrapped in XML elements page by page. It does not carry the original layout, fonts or graphics - it is built for feeding content into another system, not for reproducing the PDF.
Are tables preserved?
Only as text. Rows and columns arrive as lines of text in reading order, because a PDF stores positioned glyphs rather than table structure. If you need real cells, look at the PDF to Excel tool instead.
Can I choose the character encoding?
Yes. UTF-8 is right for almost every use; choose UTF-16 only when a downstream system insists on it, since it doubles the file size for Latin text.
Will it work on a scan?
No - a scanned page has no text layer to extract. Run OCR first, then convert the searchable PDF.
At a glance
| Input | |
|---|---|
| Multiple files | No |
| Where it runs | In your browser - files are never uploaded |
| Works offline | Yes — once the page has loaded |
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark |
Keeping text selectable and searchable
A PDF can hold real text or a picture of text, and the difference matters: real text can be selected, searched, copied and read aloud, while a scanned page cannot until someone runs OCR on it. Many "reduce size" tools silently flatten everything into images, which shrinks the file but destroys searchability and makes the text blurry when zoomed. If a document needs to stay usable - contracts, manuals, anything you may need to search later - keep text as text and compress only the images. If you are starting from a scan, run OCR first, then compress.
PDF versions, standards and compatibility
PDF 1.4 is readable by essentially everything and is the safe default for forms and general sharing. PDF 1.7 added better compression and is what most modern software writes. PDF/A is an archival variant that embeds every font and forbids outside dependencies so the file will still render identically in twenty years - archive offices and some government submissions require it, and it is a poor choice for everyday files because it is larger. Encrypted PDFs need the protection removed before any other tool can touch them, and a permissions (owner) password is weaker than an open password: it is meant to discourage printing and copying, not to keep anyone out.