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PDFsharp Extract Text From PDF vs IronPDF (Example)

In today's tutorial, we will be exploring how to extract text from PDF documents using two powerful PDF libraries, IronPDF and PDFsharp. We will be learning how text extraction works with these tools without needing to own Adobe library licensing, and how they compare against each other.

There are dozens of PDF-focused libraries out there to choose from, and by taking the time to compare them and learn how their features work, you will be able to pick out the right library for your project's needs. Text extraction is just one of the many examples of tasks you might need to carry out on your PDFs, with text extraction being helpful in situations where you might need to read or parse data from PDF files efficiently.

PDFsharp

PDFsharp is an open-source .NET library designed for creating and modifying PDF documents programmatically. While its primary strength lies in PDF generation and manipulation, it also provides basic tools for reading existing PDF files and extracting content, when paired with the right external libraries.

PDFsharp can do more beyond creating new PDF documents on the go, it can be used to modify existing PDF files, merge and split documents, add annotations, and more.

IronPDF

IronPDF is a professional-grade .NET library designed to simplify the process of working with PDF documents in C#. It is a feature-rich tool designed for developers building applications that involve PDF generation, manipulation, PDF encryption, convert PDF files, merge PDF pages, HTML to PDF conversion, content extraction, and more.

With its robust capabilities, IronPDF stands out as a versatile solution for creating and managing PDFs in both small-scale projects and enterprise-level applications.

IronPDF is designed to be compatible with modern .NET frameworks, including .NET Core, .NET 5, .NET 6, and .NET 7, as well as legacy versions like .NET Framework. It works seamlessly across operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is fully compatible with Docker, Azure, and AWS environments. This ensures developers can deploy their PDF workflows on any platform or cloud service.

For today's example, we will be attempting to extract text from this PDF document within Visual Studio:

Extract Text from a PDF File Using PDFsharp

PDFSharp, in its current version, does not have native support for text extraction from PDF documents. It is primarily designed for creating and manipulating PDFs, such as drawing graphics, adding content, and merging documents, but it lacks a built-in mechanism for extracting text on its own, unable to handle special characters, advanced encoding, and so on. It may produce fragmented or incomplete text output, or blank strings instead of the actual PDF content. For Example:

PDFsharp Extract Text From PDF vs IronPDF (Example): Figure 3

If you need advanced text extraction with better support for different fonts, encodings, and layouts, you will likely need to use a more specialized library, such as:

  1. iTextSharp (or iText 7): This is a popular PDF library with strong support for text extraction and parsing.

  2. Pdfium: Another option that excels at extracting text, especially from PDFs with complex formatting.

Extract Text from a PDF File Using IronPDF

Now, let’s see how text extraction is handled using IronPDF. IronPDF's text extraction feature provides developers with a concise, yet powerful method for extracting text from PDF documents efficiently, without needing extra code to format correctly the data string into readable text.

using IronPdf;

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Provide the file path to the PDF document
        string pdfPath = @"invoice.pdf"; 

        // Load the PDF document using IronPDF
        var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile(pdfPath);

        // Extract all text from the PDF
        var extractedText = pdf.ExtractAllText();

        // Output the extracted text to the console
        Console.WriteLine(extractedText);
    }
}
using IronPdf;

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Provide the file path to the PDF document
        string pdfPath = @"invoice.pdf"; 

        // Load the PDF document using IronPDF
        var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile(pdfPath);

        // Extract all text from the PDF
        var extractedText = pdf.ExtractAllText();

        // Output the extracted text to the console
        Console.WriteLine(extractedText);
    }
}
Imports IronPdf

Public Class Program
	Public Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
		' Provide the file path to the PDF document
		Dim pdfPath As String = "invoice.pdf"

		' Load the PDF document using IronPDF
		Dim pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile(pdfPath)

		' Extract all text from the PDF
		Dim extractedText = pdf.ExtractAllText()

		' Output the extracted text to the console
		Console.WriteLine(extractedText)
	End Sub
End Class
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

PDFsharp Extract Text From PDF vs IronPDF (Example): Figure 4

IronPDF provides a simple and efficient API for extracting text from the given PDF path. It ensures that the extracted text is well-structured and accurate, making it a reliable option for developers who need to process PDF content in their applications.

Comparison

PDFSharp is a free, open-source library ideal for basic PDF creation and manipulation, but it has limited functionality and struggles with complex PDFs. While in theory, it may be used to extract text from PDF files, this would require advanced text parsing and may result in fragmented output.

IronPDF offers a more robust solution with advanced features like accurate text extraction, HTML-to-PDF conversion, and support for modern PDF standards. It’s optimized for performance and ease of use with an intuitive API. While it is free for development, it also offers commercial licensing for its paid licensing tiers.

Conclusion

Both PDFsharp and IronPDF are valuable tools for working with extracting text from PDFs in C#, but they cater to different use cases:

  • PDFSharp is a great choice for developers who need a free, open-source library for basic PDF creation and text extraction. However, its text extraction capabilities are limited and may not meet the needs of more complex applications.
  • IronPDF, on the other hand, excels in text extraction, HTML-to-PDF conversion, and advanced PDF editing tasks. Its ease of use, cross-platform compatibility, and wide range of features make it a preferred choice for developers handling professional-grade PDF workflows.

For a deeper dive into how IronPDF outperforms other libraries, visit the official IronPDF Documentation.

Please notePDFsharp is a registered trademark of its respective owner. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PDFsharp. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Comparisons are for informational purposes only and reflect publicly available information at the time of writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I extract text from PDF documents using a .NET library?

You can use IronPDF to extract text from PDF documents efficiently. IronPDF ensures that the extracted text is well-structured and accurate, without requiring additional code for text formatting.

What are the limitations of using PDFsharp for text extraction?

PDFsharp is primarily designed for creating and modifying PDFs, and it lacks native support for efficient text extraction. This can result in fragmented or incomplete text output when attempting text extraction from complex PDF documents.

Why choose IronPDF over PDFsharp for extracting text from PDFs?

IronPDF offers robust text extraction capabilities, providing accurate and well-structured text results. It supports complex PDF formats and modern .NET frameworks, making it a more versatile choice compared to PDFsharp for comprehensive text extraction tasks.

Can IronPDF be used for cross-platform PDF development?

Yes, IronPDF is compatible with modern .NET frameworks and supports cross-platform development on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also works seamlessly with cloud services like Docker, Azure, and AWS.

What are some alternatives to PDFsharp for handling PDF text extraction?

Alternatives to PDFsharp for text extraction include IronPDF, which provides advanced text extraction features, as well as iTextSharp (iText 7) and Pdfium, known for their strong support in text extraction and parsing.

Is IronPDF suitable for professional-grade PDF manipulation?

Yes, IronPDF is a professional-grade .NET library that offers extensive features for PDF generation, manipulation, encryption, and HTML-to-PDF conversion, making it ideal for advanced PDF workflows in professional settings.

What are the use cases for using a library like IronPDF?

IronPDF is suitable for applications involving PDF generation, manipulation, text extraction, HTML-to-PDF conversion, and advanced PDF editing tasks, making it a preferred choice for developers needing reliable and efficient PDF solutions.

Is there a library that offers both free usage and commercial licensing?

IronPDF offers free usage for development purposes and also provides commercial licensing for its paid tiers, catering to various project needs and professional requirements.

Chipego
Software Engineer
Chipego has a natural skill for listening that helps him to comprehend customer issues, and offer intelligent solutions. He joined the Iron Software team in 2023, after studying a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. IronPDF and IronOCR are the two products Chipego has been focusing on, but his knowledge of ...Read More