Adobe PDF Library SDK
Adobe PDF Library is the only commercial PDF SDK built on the same core engine that powers Adobe Acrobat. That means Acrobat-level rendering accuracy and full PDF specification coverage, delivered through a developer API you can embed in any application or automated workflow. Available in Modern C++, Adobe C/C++, .NET, .NET Framework, and Java.
Windows · Linux · macOS · NuGet · Maven · Container.
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See our full list of capabilities and sample code on our GitHub repository
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Create, annotate, merge, split, add content, optimize, flatten and more.
#include <datalogics_interface/datalogics_interface.hpp> using namespace datalogics_interface; int main() { Library lib; Document doc; Rect page_rect(0, 0, 8.5 * 72, 11 * 72); doc.create_page(Document::before_first_page, page_rect); doc.save(SaveFlags::Full, "output.pdf"); return 0;}2 / 6
Extract text by region, pattern or annotations, search text, insert headers and footers, and add glyphs, Unicode and vertical text.
#include <datalogics_interface/datalogics_interface.hpp> using namespace datalogics_interface; int main() { Library lib; Document doc; Rect page_rect(0, 0, 8.5 * 72, 11 * 72); doc.create_page(Document::before_first_page, page_rect); doc.save(SaveFlags::Full, "output.pdf"); return 0;}3 / 6
Extract and place images, import, export, add thumbnails, separations, and render and rasterize content.
#include <datalogics_interface/datalogics_interface.hpp> using namespace datalogics_interface; int main() { Library lib; Document doc; Rect page_rect(0, 0, 8.5 * 72, 11 * 72); doc.create_page(Document::before_first_page, page_rect); doc.save(SaveFlags::Full, "output.pdf"); return 0;}4 / 6
Import and export AcroForm and XFA data, flatten forms, and convert XFA to AcroForm.
#include <datalogics_interface/datalogics_interface.hpp> using namespace datalogics_interface; int main() { Library lib; Document doc; Rect page_rect(0, 0, 8.5 * 72, 11 * 72); doc.create_page(Document::before_first_page, page_rect); doc.save(SaveFlags::Full, "output.pdf"); return 0;}5 / 6
Add digital, PAdES B-T and RFC3161 timestamp signatures to documents. Redact, encrypt, set up permissions and add password protection.
#include <datalogics_interface/datalogics_interface.hpp> using namespace datalogics_interface; int main() { Library lib; Document doc; Rect page_rect(0, 0, 8.5 * 72, 11 * 72); doc.create_page(Document::before_first_page, page_rect); doc.save(SaveFlags::Full, "output.pdf"); return 0;}6 / 6
Convert documents to PDF/A, PDF/X, ZUGFeRD, Factur-X, PDF to Office documents, AcroForms, and Word and Markdown to PDF. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for any Tesseract-supported language.
#include <datalogics_interface/datalogics_interface.hpp> using namespace datalogics_interface; int main() { Library lib; Document doc; Rect page_rect(0, 0, 8.5 * 72, 11 * 72); doc.create_page(Document::before_first_page, page_rect); doc.save(SaveFlags::Full, "output.pdf"); return 0;}Adobe PDF Library handles the hard cases, including complex color spaces, annotations, extraction, optimization, OCR, and digital signatures, with the consistency you’d expect from Acrobat. And with direct support from the engineers who know the code, it’s trusted by companies like Chase, IBM, and SAP that can’t afford PDF processing failures.
See our full list of capabilities and sample code on our GitHub repository
“Great use in consideration of time-to-market due to the distinct functionality of the software and the ability to manipulate PDFs.”
Adobe PDF Library
“Adobe PDF Library is a very high-quality SDK for all things PDF.”
Adobe PDF Library
“Adobe PDF Library has very thorough documentation, first class support, covers the entire PDF spec and has the same codebase as Acrobat.”
Adobe PDF Library
Adobe PDF Library SDK is a developer toolkit from Datalogics that provides programmatic access to Adobe’s PDF engine — the same core technology that powers Acrobat. It enables developers to create, convert, modify, secure, and process PDFs in C++, .NET, .NET Framework, and Java. It is used in enterprise applications, document automation platforms, SaaS products, and OEM software by companies including Boeing, IBM, Oracle, SAP, and Fidelity.
Adobe PDF Library supports Adobe C++, Modern C++, .NET, .NET Framework, and Java. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). It is available via NuGet for .NET/.NET Framework, Maven for Java, direct C++ download, and as a containerized deployment via the pdfRest API Toolkit Container.
Yes. Datalogics exposes Scout, our AI assistant with knowledge of the Adobe PDF Library SDK and documentation, as an MCP server. Developers using MCP-compatible clients like Claude Desktop or Claude Code can connect directly to Scout and query the SDK’s APIs, methods, and implementation patterns from within their own development environment — no need to leave your editor to look something up.
Yes. Datalogics achieved SOC 2 Type 2 certification in 2025, audited by Prescient Security. This validates security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls — covering the five AICPA trust service criteria.
Adobe PDF Library, Apryse, and Nutrient all offer server-side PDF processing capabilities, but differ significantly in their technical foundation and target use cases. Adobe PDF Library is built on Adobe’s own source code — the same core technology used in Adobe Acrobat. This means it has native, first-party fidelity to the full PDF specification, including the latest Adobe extensions, rather than a third-party reimplementation of it. For enterprises where PDF rendering accuracy, compliance with evolving PDF standards, and long-term reliability are non-negotiable, this distinction matters. Apryse is a broad document SDK platform covering web, mobile, server, and desktop deployments. It competes across a wider surface area including document viewing, annotation, and collaboration features, but its PDF processing engine is not built on Adobe source code. Nutrient (formerly PSPDFKit) similarly targets cross-platform deployments with a strong emphasis on web and mobile document experiences, AI document processing, and end-user interfaces. Its server SDK supports .NET, Java, Python, and Node.js. The primary differentiator for Adobe PDF Library is its Adobe lineage: it is the choice when the requirement is the deepest possible fidelity to the PDF specification at the server-side processing layer, particularly for regulated industries, high-volume document automation, and OEM applications where any deviation from the spec creates downstream risk. A secondary differentiator is our level of customer support. We have a 90%+ retention rate and some of our customers have been with us for decades. They value our response time, high level of technical expertise and direct engineering-level assistance.
Yes. Adobe PDF Library supports PAdES electronic signatures, CMS digital signatures, RFC 3161 timestamp signatures, and PAdES policy signatures. It also supports document encryption, password protection, redaction, and permission management.
Yes. Adobe PDF Library includes OCR capabilities across all supported languages and platforms — .NET, .NET Framework, Java, Adobe C++ and Modern C++, on Windows, Linux, and macOS. OCR allows developers to process scanned or image-based PDFs and add a searchable, selectable text layer to the document programmatically. The OCR engine is powered by Tesseract and supports any language that Tesseract supports. Common use cases include making scanned document archives searchable, extracting text from image-based PDFs for downstream processing or AI ingestion, and producing accessible PDFs that meet PDF/UA requirements. Dedicated OCR best practices documentation is available for each language binding at dev.datalogics.com.
Start your free trial right on this page. The trial provides full SDK access with no feature restrictions and no credit card required. Install via NuGet, Maven, or C++ download and run your first PDF operation in under 10 minutes. Contact evalsupport@datalogics.com to extend your trial period.
Adobe PDF Library is licensed annually. Pricing varies by use model: OEM (flat annual fee per platform plus royalties based on distribution), SaaS (server-based or customized model), and End-User (per server/desktop). Contact Datalogics for a quote or read our Pricing & Licensing page.
Detect your platform, pick a language, and start your free trial — you’ll get a key when available, or we’ll follow up with next steps.
Security & Compliance
How to Evaluate a PDF SDK Vendor's Security Posture
A step-by-step due diligence guide for security and engineering teams choosing a PDF SDK. It covers what to ask for, how to read a SOC 2 report, how to judge vulnerability response and supply chain practices, and which contract terms matter, with a scorecard to compare vendors side by side.
Industry Insights
SOC 2, HIPAA & GDPR: What They Mean for PDF Processing
How do SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR apply to PDF processing? This guide covers what each requires, from storage to redaction, and where the three overlap.
PDF SDK Comparisons
Adobe PDF Library vs. Apryse vs. Nutrient: Which PDF SDK Should You Choose?
A vendor-neutral comparison of three leading PDF SDKs — Adobe PDF Library, Apryse, and Nutrient — covering rendering fidelity, platform coverage, security certifications, standards compliance, and licensing to help developers choose the right one.
