PDF to Markdown

The PDF to Markdown API (included with the PDF Services API) is a cloud-based web service that automatically converts PDF documents – native or scanned – into well-formatted LLM-friendly Markdown text. This service preserves the document's structure and formatting while converting it into a format that's widely used for LLM flows, content authoring and documentation.

Structured Information Output Format

The output of a PDF to Markdown operation includes:

A primary .md file containing the converted Markdown content

Output Structure

The following is a summary of key elements in the converted Markdown:

Elements

Ordered list of semantic elements converted from the PDF document, preserving the natural reading order and document structure. The conversion handles:

Text content with proper Markdown syntax
Document hierarchy and structure
Inline formatting and emphasis
Links and references
Images and figures
Tables and complex layouts

Content Types

The API processes various content types as follows:

Text Elements

Headings: Converted to appropriate Markdown heading levels (H1-H6)
Paragraphs: Preserved with proper spacing and formatting
Lists: Both ordered and unordered lists with proper nesting
Text Emphasis: Bold, italic, and other text formatting
Links: Preserved with proper Markdown link syntax

Images and Figures

Provided as base64-embedded images in the Markdown output
Referenced correctly in the Markdown output
Original quality preserved
Proper alt-text and captions maintained

Tables

Converted to Markdown table syntax
Column alignment preserved
Cell content formatting maintained
Complex table structures supported

Element Types and Paths

The API recognizes and converts the following structural elements:

Reading Order

The reading order in the output Markdown maintains:

Natural document flow
Proper content hierarchy
Column-based layouts
Page transitions
Inline elements and references

Use Cases

The PDF to Markdown API is particularly valuable for:

LLM and RAG ingestion: Convert PDFs to Markdown for chunking, embeddings, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
Prompt and context packaging: Produce Markdown that is easy to paste, structure, and cite in prompts and agent workflows.
Training data preparation: Create LLM fine-tuning datasets from PDF content after review, cleanup, and labeling.
Doc-as-code workflows: Bring PDF content into Git-based review, versioning, diffing, and static-site generators.
Knowledge base publishing: Migrate PDFs into documentation platforms and internal wikis as clean, editable Markdown.
Legacy and archive modernization: Convert historical PDFs so they become searchable, editable, and maintainable.
Automated document processing: Standardize PDF-to-text conversion inside ETL and document-processing pipelines.
Enterprise search and indexing: Feed converted Markdown into internal search systems and knowledge repositories.
Compliance and audit readiness: Make PDF policies, SOPs, and manuals searchable and easier to review for changes.
Content QA and change tracking: Compare converted Markdown across document versions to detect updates and regressions.
Analytics and classification: Use Markdown output for topic modeling, tagging, deduplication, and routing workflows.
Localization workflows: Convert to Markdown as a starting point for translation and multi-language documentation.

API Limitations

For File Constraints and Processing Limits, see Licensing and Usage Limits.

Document Requirements

Files must be unprotected or allow content copying
No support for:
- Hidden objects (JavaScript, OCG)
- XFA and fillable forms
- Complex annotations
- CAD drawings or vector art
- Password-protected content

REST API

See our public API Reference for PDF to Markdown API.

Get Markdown from a PDF

Use the sample below to create Markdowns from PDFs

Please refer the API usage guide to understand how to use our APIs.

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              data-languages=.NET, Python, REST API

            

              .NET
            

              // Get the samples from https://github.com/adobe/PDFServices.NET.SDK.Samples
// Run the sample:
// cd PDFToMarkdown/
// dotnet run PDFToMarkdown.csproj
namespace PDFToMarkdown
{
  class Program
  {
    private static readonly ILog log = LogManager.GetLogger(typeof(Program));

    static void Main()
  {
    ConfigureLogging();
    try
    {
      ICredentials credentials = new ServicePrincipalCredentials(
            Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID"),
            Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET"));

      PDFServices pdfServices = new PDFServices(credentials);

      using Stream inputStream = File.OpenRead(@"pdfToMarkdownInput.pdf");
      IAsset asset = pdfServices.Upload(inputStream, PDFServicesMediaType.PDF.GetMIMETypeValue());


      PDFToMarkdownJob pdfToMarkdownJob = new PDFToMarkdownJob(asset);

      String location = pdfServices.Submit(pdfToMarkdownJob);
      PDFServicesResponse<PDFToMarkdownResult> pdfServicesResponse =
              pdfServices.GetJobResult<PDFToMarkdownResult>(location, typeof(PDFToMarkdownResult));

      IAsset resultAsset = pdfServicesResponse.Result.Asset;
      StreamAsset streamAsset = pdfServices.GetContent(resultAsset);

      String outputFilePath = CreateOutputFilePath();
      new FileInfo(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() + outputFilePath).Directory.Create();
      Stream outputStream = File.OpenWrite(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() + outputFilePath);
      streamAsset.Stream.CopyTo(outputStream);
      outputStream.Close();
    }
    catch (ServiceUsageException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (ServiceApiException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (SDKException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (IOException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (Exception ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  }

    static void ConfigureLogging()
  {
    ILoggerRepository logRepository = LogManager.GetRepository(Assembly.GetEntryAssembly());
    XmlConfigurator.Configure(logRepository, new FileInfo("log4net.config"));
  }

    private static String CreateOutputFilePath()
  {
    String timeStamp = DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH'-'mm'-'ss");
    return ("/output/pdfToMarkdown" + timeStamp + ".md");
  }
  }
}

            

              Python
            

              # Get the samples https://github.com/adobe/pdfservices-python-sdk-samples
# Run the sample:
# python src/pdftomarkdown/pdf_to_markdown.py

# Initialize the logger
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)

class PDFToMarkdown:
    def __init__(self):
        try:
            file = open('src/resources/pdfToMarkdownInput.pdf', 'rb')
            input_stream = file.read()
            file.close()

            # Initial setup, create credentials instance
            credentials = ServicePrincipalCredentials(
                client_id=os.getenv('PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID'),
                client_secret=os.getenv('PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET')
            )

            # Creates a PDF Services instance
            pdf_services = PDFServices(credentials=credentials)

            # Creates an asset(s) from source file(s) and upload
            input_asset = pdf_services.upload(input_stream=input_stream,
                                              mime_type=PDFServicesMediaType.PDF)

            # Creates a new job instance
            pdf_to_markdown_job = PDFToMarkdownJob(input_asset=input_asset)

            # Submit the job and gets the job result
            location = pdf_services.submit(pdf_to_markdown_job)
            pdf_services_response = pdf_services.get_job_result(location, PDFToMarkdownResult)

            # Get content from the resulting asset(s)
            result_asset: CloudAsset = pdf_services_response.get_result().get_asset()
            stream_asset: StreamAsset = pdf_services.get_content(result_asset)

            # Creates an output stream and copy stream asset's content to it
            output_file_path = self.create_output_file_path()
            with open(output_file_path, "wb") as file:
                file.write(stream_asset.get_input_stream())

        except (ServiceApiException, ServiceUsageException, SdkException) as e:
            logging.exception(f'Exception encountered while executing operation: {e}')

    # Generates a string containing a directory structure and file name for the output file
    @staticmethod
    def create_output_file_path() -> str:
        now = datetime.now()
        time_stamp = now.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S")
        os.makedirs("output/PDFToMarkdown", exist_ok=True)
        return f"output/PDFToMarkdown/markdown{time_stamp}.md"


if __name__ == "__main__":
    PDFToMarkdown()

            

              REST API
            

              // Please refer our REST API docs for more information
// https://developer.adobe.com/document-services/docs/apis/#tag/PDF-To-Markdown

curl --location --request POST 'https://pdf-services.adobe.io/operation/pdftomarkdown' \
--header 'x-api-key: {{Placeholder for client_id}}' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer {{Placeholder for token}}' \
--data-raw '{
    "assetID": "urn:aaid:AS:UE1:23c30ee0-2e4d-46d6-87f2-087832fca718"
}'

            

Get Markdown from a PDF with Figures

Use the sample below to create Markdowns from PDFs with figures embedded in the PDFs

Please refer the API usage guide to understand how to use our APIs.

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              data-repeat=3

            

              data-languages=.NET, Python, REST API

            

              .NET
            

              // Get the samples from https://github.com/adobe/PDFServices.NET.SDK.Samples
// Run the sample:
// cd PDFToMarkdownWithFigures/
// dotnet run PDFToMarkdownWithFigures.csproj
namespace PDFToMarkdownWithFigures
{
  class Program
  {
    private static readonly ILog log = LogManager.GetLogger(typeof(Program));

    static void Main()
  {
    ConfigureLogging();
    try
    {
      ICredentials credentials = new ServicePrincipalCredentials(
            Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID"),
            Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET"));

      PDFServices pdfServices = new PDFServices(credentials);

      using Stream inputStream = File.OpenRead(@"pdfToMarkdownInput.pdf");
      IAsset asset = pdfServices.Upload(inputStream, PDFServicesMediaType.PDF.GetMIMETypeValue());

      // Create parameters for the job (include figure renditions in the output)
      PDFToMarkdownParams pdfToMarkdownParams = PDFToMarkdownParams.PDFToMarkdownParamsBuilder()
            .WithGetFigures(true)
            .Build();

      PDFToMarkdownJob pdfToMarkdownJob = new PDFToMarkdownJob(asset)
            .SetParams(pdfToMarkdownParams);

      String location = pdfServices.Submit(pdfToMarkdownJob);
      PDFServicesResponse<PDFToMarkdownResult> pdfServicesResponse =
              pdfServices.GetJobResult<PDFToMarkdownResult>(location, typeof(PDFToMarkdownResult));

      IAsset resultAsset = pdfServicesResponse.Result.Asset;
      StreamAsset streamAsset = pdfServices.GetContent(resultAsset);

      String outputFilePath = CreateOutputFilePath();
      new FileInfo(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() + outputFilePath).Directory.Create();
      Stream outputStream = File.OpenWrite(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() + outputFilePath);
      streamAsset.Stream.CopyTo(outputStream);
      outputStream.Close();
    }
    catch (ServiceUsageException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (ServiceApiException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (SDKException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (IOException ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  catch (Exception ex)
    {
      log.Error("Exception encountered while executing operation", ex);
    }
  }

    static void ConfigureLogging()
  {
    ILoggerRepository logRepository = LogManager.GetRepository(Assembly.GetEntryAssembly());
    XmlConfigurator.Configure(logRepository, new FileInfo("log4net.config"));
  }

    private static String CreateOutputFilePath()
  {
    String timeStamp = DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH'-'mm'-'ss");
    return ("/output/pdfToMarkdownWithFigures" + timeStamp + ".md");
  }
  }
}

            

              Python
            

              # Get the samples https://github.com/adobe/pdfservices-python-sdk-samples
# Run the sample:
# python src/pdftomarkdown/pdf_to_markdown.py

# Initialize the logger
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)

class PDFToMarkdownWithOptions:
    def __init__(self):
        try:
            file = open('src/resources/pdfToMarkdownInput.pdf', 'rb')
            input_stream = file.read()
            file.close()

            # Initial setup, create credentials instance
            credentials = ServicePrincipalCredentials(
                client_id=os.getenv('PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_ID'),
                client_secret=os.getenv('PDF_SERVICES_CLIENT_SECRET')
            )

            # Creates a PDF Services instance
            pdf_services = PDFServices(credentials=credentials)

            # Creates an asset(s) from source file(s) and upload
            input_asset = pdf_services.upload(input_stream=input_stream,
                                              mime_type=PDFServicesMediaType.PDF)

            # Create parameters for the job with figures extraction enabled
            pdf_to_markdown_params = PDFToMarkdownParams(get_figures=True)

            # Creates a new job instance
            pdf_to_markdown_job = PDFToMarkdownJob(input_asset=input_asset,
                                                   pdf_to_markdown_params=pdf_to_markdown_params)

            # Submit the job and gets the job result
            location = pdf_services.submit(pdf_to_markdown_job)
            pdf_services_response = pdf_services.get_job_result(location, PDFToMarkdownResult)

            # Get content from the resulting asset(s)
            result_asset: CloudAsset = pdf_services_response.get_result().get_asset()
            stream_asset: StreamAsset = pdf_services.get_content(result_asset)

            # Creates an output stream and copy stream asset's content to it
            output_file_path = self.create_output_file_path()
            with open(output_file_path, "wb") as file:
                file.write(stream_asset.get_input_stream())

        except (ServiceApiException, ServiceUsageException, SdkException) as e:
            logging.exception(f'Exception encountered while executing operation: {e}')

    # Generates a string containing a directory structure and file name for the output file
    @staticmethod
    def create_output_file_path() -> str:
        now = datetime.now()
        time_stamp = now.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S")
        os.makedirs("output/PDFToMarkdownWithOptions", exist_ok=True)
        return f"output/PDFToMarkdownWithOptions/markdown{time_stamp}.md"


if __name__ == "__main__":
    PDFToMarkdownWithOptions()

            

              REST API
            

              // Please refer our REST API docs for more information
// https://developer.adobe.com/document-services/docs/apis/#tag/PDF-To-Markdown

curl --location --request POST 'https://pdf-services.adobe.io/operation/pdftomarkdown' \
--header 'x-api-key: {{Placeholder for client_id}}' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer {{Placeholder for token}}' \
--data-raw '{
"assetID": "urn:aaid:AS:UE1:23c30ee0-2e4d-46d6-87f2-087832fca718",
        "getFigures": true
}'

            