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REST API · JSON output · 100 free pages/mo

Data Extraction API

Extract structured data from PDFs, invoices, receipts, and forms with a single API call. Send any document, get clean JSON back. No templates, no training data, no configuration files.

Start Extracting FreeRead the Docs

One API Call to Extract Data from Any Document

Send a document to the extraction endpoint and receive structured JSON. Define a schema to control exactly which fields you need, or let the API auto-detect the document structure.

request.sh
curl -X POST \
  https://api-parse.conversiontools.io/v1/extract \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "file=@invoice.pdf" \
  -F 'schema={
    "vendor": "string",
    "date": "string",
    "total": "number",
    "line_items": [{
      "description": "string",
      "amount": "number"
    }]
  }'
response.json
{
  "status": "completed",
  "data": {
    "vendor": "Acme Corp",
    "date": "2026-03-01",
    "total": 1250.00,
    "line_items": [
      {
        "description": "Consulting services",
        "amount": 1000.00
      },
      {
        "description": "Expenses",
        "amount": 250.00
      }
    ]
  }
}

How the Data Extraction API Works

Three steps to go from raw document to structured data. No training, no templates - the API understands your documents automatically.

1

Upload Your Document

Send any PDF, image, or scanned document to the API endpoint. Supports invoices, receipts, forms, contracts, and more.

2

AI Extracts the Data

The API reads the document, understands its structure, and extracts the fields you requested in your schema definition.

3

Get Structured JSON

Receive clean, typed JSON matching your schema. Ready to store in a database, feed into a pipeline, or display in your application.

Why Developers Choose Parse for Data Extraction

Built for developers who need reliable, accurate data extraction without the complexity of traditional OCR pipelines.

AI-Powered Extraction

Uses large language models to understand document context and layout. Handles varied formats without custom rules or template configuration.

Simple REST API

One endpoint, one API call. Send a file, get JSON back. No SDKs required - works with curl, Python, Node.js, or any HTTP client.

Custom Schemas

Define exactly which fields to extract with JSON schemas. Support for strings, numbers, dates, arrays, and nested objects. Reuse schemas across documents.

Multiple Document Formats

Process PDFs, scanned images, JPEGs, PNGs, GIF, WebP, TIFF, BMP, HEIC, and AVIF files. Works with both digital and scanned documents across all languages.

Privacy & Security

Files are processed and deleted automatically. No document data is stored after extraction. EU-hosted infrastructure with encrypted connections.

Fast Response Times

Most single-page documents are processed in seconds. Synchronous and asynchronous modes available depending on your use case and document size.

Built for Complex, Real-World Documents

Most documents are not clean, single-column text. The API reads the messy ones too - tables, scans, and pages that run long.

Tables & Lists

Recognizes tabular data, bulleted lists, numbered clauses, and nested structures, and returns each row or item as a typed object in a JSON array.

Handwritten Text

Extracts printed, typed, and handwritten content from scanned documents, including annotations and filled-in form fields.

Multi-Page Documents

Processes an entire document in one call and keeps context across pages, so values that span headers, sections, and appendices come back together.

From the blog
July 18, 2026·5 min read

You Got the Data Out. Why Is It Still a Mess?

Parsing a document is the easy part now. The real work is turning that output into the same clean fields every time - here is the gap that breaks pipelines, and how to close it.

Read more
July 12, 2026·6 min read

How I prepare my VAT report from a pile of supplier invoices

A founder walkthrough: define the fields once, then turn every supplier PDF invoice into the same structured JSON for a VAT return - no manual re-typing.

Read more

More document extraction use cases

The same schema-driven API works across every document type. Define a schema once, extract from thousands of files.

PDF Parsing API

Parse any PDF into structured JSON, scanned or digital.

Invoice extraction

Vendor, line items, totals, tax, and dates from invoices.

Receipt parsing

Store, items, totals, and payment method from receipts.

Purchase order extraction

PO number, vendor, buyer, and SKU-level line items.

Bank statement to JSON

Transactions, running balances, and dates for reconciliation.

Tax form extraction

Box-level data from W-2, 1099, and other tax forms.

Contract data extraction

Parties, dates, governing law, and key clauses.

Bill of lading extraction

Carrier, parties, ports, containers, and cargo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the data extraction API.

What file formats does the data extraction API support?

Parse accepts PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, TIFF, BMP, HEIC, and AVIF files. You can extract structured data from scanned documents, digital PDFs, photos of receipts, and any image-based document.

Do I need to create templates for each document type?

No. Parse uses AI to understand document structure automatically. You define a JSON schema describing the fields you want, and the API extracts them from any document - no templates, training data, or configuration files required.

How accurate is the data extraction?

Parse uses large language models to understand document context, not just OCR text matching. This means it handles varied layouts, languages, and formatting. Accuracy depends on document quality, but most structured documents like invoices and receipts achieve high extraction rates.

Is there a free tier for the data extraction API?

Yes. The free plan includes 100 pages per month with full API access, custom schemas, and all supported file formats. No credit card required to start.

How do I handle large volumes of documents?

For batch processing, use the asynchronous extraction endpoint. Submit documents and poll for results, or use webhooks to get notified when extraction is complete. The Pro plan supports 5,000 pages per month with priority processing.

Is Parse a data parsing tool or an API?

Both. Use the no-code dashboard to define your fields and preview the parsed results in your browser, or call the REST API to automate the same extraction at scale. The parsing logic is identical - the dashboard is just a friendly front end over the API.

Is there an SDK or client library for data extraction?

No SDK to install. Parse is a plain REST API, so you can call it from any language - curl, Python, Node.js, Go, or any HTTP client. Send a file and your JSON schema to a single endpoint and get structured data back.

Start Extracting Data Today

Get your API key and extract data from your first document in minutes. 100 pages per month free - no credit card required.

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