Why is the output empty?

The file is probably a scan with no text layer. Open the OCR PDF tool to read the text from the page images.

Is this the same as OCR?

No. This copies text that is already in the PDF. OCR reads pixels on a scanned page.

Why are the words jumbled?

The PDF stores text in the order it was drawn, which can differ from reading order in multi-column layouts and tables.

No. Text is extracted in your browser.

Can I count the words in a PDF?

Yes. Extract the text and paste it into the Word Counter.

Extract Text from PDF

Extract existing text from a digital PDF without OCR. Use this when you can already highlight text in a reader. Scanned pages need the OCR tool.

Click to select a PDF or drag and drop here

Pull the existing text layer from a digital PDF. Scanned pages need the OCR tool.

How to use Extract PDF Text

Upload a digital PDF.
Click Extract text.
Copy the result or send it to the word counter.

About Extract Text from PDF

Copy the text out of a digital PDF in one step. This reads the text layer already inside the file, so it is fast and exact, and you can edit, copy, or download the result.

Digital PDFs vs. scans

PDFs created from Word, Google Docs, or a website contain real text, which this tool extracts exactly as written. A quick test: if you can highlight words in your PDF reader, extraction will work.

Scanned documents and photos are just pictures of text. If the result is empty, use OCR PDF, which reads the text from the page images.

Formatting

Extracted text keeps the words and their order but not fonts, tables, or columns. Multi-column layouts may come out with columns interleaved, so check the result if the original used columns.

Paste the text into the Word Counter or Find and Replace tool to count or clean it up.

Common uses

Quoting documents: Copy passages from reports or papers.
Editing: Get the text of a PDF into a word processor.
Word counts: Count the words in a PDF essay or article.
Data extraction: Pull text out of invoices or statements for processing.

Questions about Extract PDF Text

Why is the output empty?: The file is probably a scan with no text layer. Open the OCR PDF tool to read the text from the page images.
Is this the same as OCR?: No. This copies text that is already in the PDF. OCR reads pixels on a scanned page.
Why are the words jumbled?: The PDF stores text in the order it was drawn, which can differ from reading order in multi-column layouts and tables.
Is my PDF uploaded?: No. Text is extracted in your browser.
Can I count the words in a PDF?: Yes. Extract the text and paste it into the Word Counter.

More tools like Extract PDF Text

Comments

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