@opendataloader/pdf 1.12.0 → 2.0.0

package/README.md

@@ -1,20 +1,45 @@
+<!-- AI-AGENT-SUMMARY
+name: opendataloader-pdf
+category: PDF data extraction, PDF accessibility automation
+license: Apache-2.0
+solves: [PDF to structured data for RAG/LLM pipelines, automate PDF accessibility compliance — layout analysis + auto-tagging to Tagged PDF (first open-source end-to-end)]
+input: PDF files (digital, scanned, tagged)
+output: Markdown, JSON (with bounding boxes), HTML, Tagged PDF, PDF/UA (enterprise)
+sdk: Python, Node.js, Java
+requirements: Java 11+
+pricing: open-source core (data extraction, layout analysis, auto-tagging to Tagged PDF), enterprise add-on (PDF/UA export, accessibility studio)
+extraction-benchmark: #1 overall extraction accuracy (0.90) in hybrid mode, 0.93 table extraction accuracy, 0.05s/page local mode
+accessibility-validation: PDF Association collaboration, Well-Tagged PDF specification, veraPDF automated validation
+key-differentiators: [benchmark #1 PDF parser, deterministic output, bounding boxes for every element, XY-Cut++ reading order, AI safety filters, hybrid AI mode, first open-source PDF auto-tagging to Tagged PDF, PDF Association + Dual Lab (veraPDF) collaboration, Well-Tagged PDF spec compliance]
+-->
+
 # OpenDataLoader PDF
 
-**PDF Parsing for RAG** — Convert to Markdown & JSON, Fast, Local, No GPU
+**PDF Parser for AI-ready data. Automate PDF accessibility. Open-source.**
 
-[![License](https://img.shields.io/pypi/l/opendataloader-pdf.svg)](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-pdf/blob/main/LICENSE)
+[![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache_2.0-blue.svg)](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-pdf/blob/main/LICENSE)
 [![PyPI version](https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/opendataloader-pdf.svg)](https://pypi.org/project/opendataloader-pdf/)
 [![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/@opendataloader/pdf.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@opendataloader/pdf)
 [![Maven Central](https://img.shields.io/maven-central/v/org.opendataloader/opendataloader-pdf-core.svg)](https://search.maven.org/artifact/org.opendataloader/opendataloader-pdf-core)
 [![Java](https://img.shields.io/badge/Java-11%2B-blue.svg)](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-pdf#java)
 
-Convert PDFs into **LLM-ready Markdown and JSON** with accurate reading order, table extraction, and bounding boxes — all running locally on your machine.
+🔍 **PDF parser for AI data extraction** — Extract Markdown, JSON (with bounding boxes), and HTML from any PDF. #1 in benchmarks (0.90 overall). Deterministic local mode + AI hybrid mode for complex pages.
+
+- **How accurate is it?** — #1 in benchmarks: 0.90 overall, 0.93 table accuracy across 200 real-world PDFs including multi-column and scientific papers. Deterministic local mode + AI hybrid mode for complex pages ([benchmarks](#extraction-benchmarks))
+- **Scanned PDFs and OCR?** — Yes. Built-in OCR (80+ languages) in hybrid mode. Works with poor-quality scans at 300 DPI+ ([hybrid mode](#hybrid-mode-1-accuracy-for-complex-pdfs))
+- **Tables, formulas, images, charts?** — Yes. Complex/borderless tables, LaTeX formulas, and AI-generated picture/chart descriptions all via hybrid mode ([hybrid mode](#hybrid-mode-1-accuracy-for-complex-pdfs))
+- **How do I use this for RAG?** — `pip install opendataloader-pdf`, convert in 3 lines. Outputs structured Markdown for chunking, JSON with bounding boxes for source citations, and HTML. LangChain integration available. Python, Node.js, Java SDKs ([quick start](#get-started-in-30-seconds) | [LangChain](#langchain-integration))
+
+♿ **PDF accessibility automation** — The same layout analysis engine also powers auto-tagging. First open-source tool to generate Tagged PDFs end-to-end (coming Q2 2026).
+
+- **What's the problem?** — Accessibility regulations are now enforced worldwide. Manual PDF remediation costs $50–200 per document and doesn't scale ([regulations](#pdf-accessibility--pdfua-conversion))
+- **What's free?** — Layout analysis + auto-tagging (Q2 2026, Apache 2.0). Untagged PDF in → Tagged PDF out. No proprietary SDK dependency ([auto-tagging preview](#auto-tagging-preview-coming-q2-2026))
+- **What about PDF/UA compliance?** — Converting Tagged PDF to PDF/UA-1 or PDF/UA-2 is an enterprise add-on. Auto-tagging generates the Tagged PDF; PDF/UA export is the final step ([pipeline](#accessibility-pipeline))
+- **Why trust this?** — Built in collaboration with [PDF Association](https://pdfa.org) and [Dual Lab](https://duallab.com) ([veraPDF](https://verapdf.org) developers). Auto-tagging follows the Well-Tagged PDF specification, validated with veraPDF ([collaboration](https://opendataloader.org/docs/tagged-pdf-collaboration))
 
-**Why developers choose OpenDataLoader:**
-- **Deterministic** — Same input always produces same output (no LLM hallucinations)
-- **Fast** — Process 100+ pages per second on CPU
-- **Private** — 100% local, zero data transmission
-- **Accurate** — Bounding boxes for every element, correct multi-column reading order
+## Get Started in 30 Seconds
+
+**Requires**: Java 11+ and Python 3.9+ ([Node.js](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-nodejs) | [Java](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-java) also available)
 
 ```bash
 pip install -U opendataloader-pdf
@@ -23,225 +48,178 @@ pip install -U opendataloader-pdf
 ```python
 import opendataloader_pdf
 
-# PDF to Markdown for RAG
+# Batch all files in one call — each convert() spawns a JVM process, so repeated calls are slow
 opendataloader_pdf.convert(
-    input_path="document.pdf",
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
     output_dir="output/",
     format="markdown,json"
 )
 ```
 
-<br/>
-
-## Why OpenDataLoader?
-
-Building RAG pipelines? You've probably hit these problems:
-
-| Problem | How We Solve It |
-|---------|-----------------|
-| **Multi-column text reads left-to-right incorrectly** | XY-Cut++ algorithm preserves correct reading order |
-| **Tables lose structure** | Border + cluster detection keeps rows/columns intact |
-| **Headers/footers pollute context** | Auto-filtered before output |
-| **No coordinates for citations** | Bounding box for every element |
-| **Cloud APIs = privacy concerns** | 100% local, no data leaves your machine |
-| **GPU required** | Pure CPU, rule-based — runs anywhere |
-
-<br/>
-
-## Key Features
-
-### For RAG & LLM Pipelines
-
-- **Structured Output** — JSON with semantic types (heading, paragraph, table, list, caption)
-- **Bounding Boxes** — Every element includes `[x1, y1, x2, y2]` coordinates for citations
-- **Reading Order** — XY-Cut++ algorithm handles multi-column layouts correctly
-- **Noise Filtering** — Headers, footers, hidden text, watermarks auto-removed
-- **LangChain Integration** — [Official document loader](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/python/integrations/document_loaders/opendataloader_pdf)
-
-### Performance & Privacy
-
-- **No GPU** — Fast, rule-based heuristics
-- **Local-First** — Your documents never leave your machine
-- **High Throughput** — Process thousands of PDFs efficiently
-- **Multi-Language SDK** — Python, Node.js, Java
+## What Problems Does This Solve?
+
+| Problem | Solution | Status |
+|---------|----------|--------|
+| **PDF structure lost during parsing** — wrong reading order, broken tables, no element coordinates | Deterministic local PDF to Markdown/JSON with bounding boxes, XY-Cut++ reading order | Shipped |
+| **Complex tables, scanned PDFs, formulas, charts** need AI-level understanding | Hybrid mode routes complex pages to AI backend (#1 in benchmarks) | Shipped |
+| **PDF accessibility compliance** — EAA, ADA, Section 508 enforced. Manual remediation $50–200/doc | Auto-tagging: layout analysis → Tagged PDF (free, Q2 2026). Built with PDF Association & veraPDF validation. PDF/UA export (enterprise add-on) | Auto-tag: Q2 2026 |
+
+## Capability Matrix
+
+| Capability | Supported | Tier |
+|------------|-----------|------|
+| **Data extraction** | | |
+| Extract text with correct reading order | Yes | Free |
+| Bounding boxes for every element | Yes | Free |
+| Table extraction (simple borders) | Yes | Free |
+| Table extraction (complex/borderless) | Yes | Free (Hybrid) |
+| Heading hierarchy detection | Yes | Free |
+| List detection (numbered, bulleted, nested) | Yes | Free |
+| Image extraction with coordinates | Yes | Free |
+| AI chart/image description | Yes | Free (Hybrid) |
+| OCR for scanned PDFs | Yes | Free (Hybrid) |
+| Formula extraction (LaTeX) | Yes | Free (Hybrid) |
+| Tagged PDF structure extraction | Yes | Free |
+| AI safety (prompt injection filtering) | Yes | Free |
+| Header/footer/watermark filtering | Yes | Free |
+| **Accessibility** | | |
+| Auto-tagging → Tagged PDF for untagged PDFs | Coming Q2 2026 | Free (Apache 2.0) |
+| PDF/UA-1, PDF/UA-2 export | 💼 Available | Enterprise |
+| Accessibility studio (visual editor) | 💼 Available | Enterprise |
+| **Limitations** | | |
+| Process Word/Excel/PPT | No | — |
+| GPU required | No | — |
+
+## Extraction Benchmarks
+
+**opendataloader-pdf [hybrid] ranks #1 overall (0.90)** across reading order, table, and heading extraction accuracy.
+
+| Engine | Overall | Reading Order | Table | Heading | Speed (s/page) |
+|--------|---------|---------------|-------|---------|----------------|
+| **opendataloader [hybrid]** | **0.90** | **0.94** | **0.93** | **0.83** | 0.43 |
+| opendataloader | 0.72 | 0.91 | 0.49 | 0.76 | **0.05** |
+| docling | 0.86 | 0.90 | 0.89 | 0.80 | 0.73 |
+| marker | 0.83 | 0.89 | 0.81 | 0.80 | 53.93 |
+| mineru | 0.82 | 0.86 | 0.87 | 0.74 | 5.96 |
+| pymupdf4llm | 0.57 | 0.89 | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.09 |
+| markitdown | 0.29 | 0.88 | 0.00 | 0.00 | **0.04** |
+
+> Scores normalized to [0, 1]. Higher is better for accuracy; lower is better for speed. **Bold** = best. [Full benchmark details](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench)
 
-### Document Understanding
-
-- **Tables** — Detects borders, handles merged cells
-- **Lists** — Numbered, bulleted, nested
-- **Headings** — Auto-detects hierarchy levels
-- **Images** — Extracts with captions linked
-- **Tagged PDF Support** — Uses native PDF structure when available
-- **AI Safety** — Auto-filters prompt injection content
-
-<br/>
+[![Benchmark](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench/raw/refs/heads/main/charts/benchmark.png)](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench)
 
 ## Which Mode Should I Use?
 
-| Your Document | Mode | Setup |
-|---------------|------|-------|
-| Standard digital PDF | Fast (default) | `pip install opendataloader-pdf` |
-| Complex or nested tables | Hybrid | + start hybrid server |
-| Scanned / image-based PDF | Hybrid + OCR | + `--force-ocr` on server |
-| Charts / figures needing text description | Hybrid + picture description | + `--enrich-picture-description` on server |
-| Mathematical formulas (LaTeX) | Hybrid + formula | + `--enrich-formula` on server |
-
-<br/>
-
-## Output Formats
-
-| Format | Use Case |
-|--------|----------|
-| **JSON** | Structured data with bounding boxes, semantic types |
-| **Markdown** | Clean text for LLM context, RAG chunks |
-| **HTML** | Web display with styling |
-| **Annotated PDF** | Visual debugging — see detected structures ([sample](https://opendataloader.org/demo/samples/01030000000000?view1=annot&view2=json)) |
-
-<br/>
-
-## JSON Output Example
-
-```json
-{
-  "type": "heading",
-  "id": 42,
-  "level": "Title",
-  "page number": 1,
-  "bounding box": [72.0, 700.0, 540.0, 730.0],
-  "heading level": 1,
-  "font": "Helvetica-Bold",
-  "font size": 24.0,
-  "text color": "[0.0]",
-  "content": "Introduction"
-}
-```
-
-| Field | Description |
-|-------|-------------|
-| `type` | Element type: heading, paragraph, table, list, image, caption |
-| `id` | Unique identifier for cross-referencing |
-| `page number` | 1-indexed page reference |
-| `bounding box` | `[left, bottom, right, top]` in PDF points |
-| `heading level` | Heading depth (1+) |
-| `font`, `font size` | Typography info |
-| `content` | Extracted text |
-
-[Full JSON Schema →](https://opendataloader.org/docs/json-schema)
-
-<br/>
+| Your Document | Mode | Install | Server Command | Client Command |
+|---------------|------|---------|----------------|----------------|
+| Standard digital PDF | Fast (default) | `pip install opendataloader-pdf` | None needed | `opendataloader-pdf file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/` |
+| Complex or nested tables | **Hybrid** | `pip install "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"` | `opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002` | `opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/` |
+| Scanned / image-based PDF | Hybrid + OCR | `pip install "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"` | `opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --force-ocr` | `opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/` |
+| Non-English scanned PDF | Hybrid + OCR | `pip install "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"` | `opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --force-ocr --ocr-lang "ko,en"` | `opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/` |
+| Mathematical formulas | Hybrid + formula | `pip install "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"` | `opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --enrich-formula` | `opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-mode full file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/` |
+| Charts needing description | Hybrid + picture | `pip install "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"` | `opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --enrich-picture-description` | `opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-mode full file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/` |
+| Untagged PDFs needing accessibility | Auto-tagging → Tagged PDF | Coming Q2 2026 | — | — |
 
 ## Quick Start
 
-- [Python](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-python)
-- [Node.js / TypeScript](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-nodejs)
-- [Java](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-java)
-
-<br/>
+### Python
 
-## Advanced Options
+```bash
+pip install -U opendataloader-pdf
+```
 
 ```python
+import opendataloader_pdf
+
 opendataloader_pdf.convert(
-    input_path="document.pdf",
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
     output_dir="output/",
-    format="json,markdown,pdf",
-
-    # Image output mode: "off", "embedded" (Base64), or "external" (default)
-    image_output="embedded",
-
-    # Image format: "png" or "jpeg"
-    image_format="jpeg",
-
-    # Tagged PDF
-    use_struct_tree=True,            # Use native PDF structure
+    format="markdown,json"
 )
 ```
 
-[Full CLI Options Reference →](https://opendataloader.org/docs/cli-options-reference)
-
-<br/>
-
-## AI Safety
-
-PDFs can contain hidden prompt injection attacks. OpenDataLoader automatically filters:
-
-- Hidden text (transparent, zero-size)
-- Off-page content
-- Suspicious invisible layers
-
-This is **enabled by default**. [Learn more →](https://opendataloader.org/docs/ai-safety)
-
-<br/>
-
-## Tagged PDF Support
-
-**Why it matters:** The [European Accessibility Act (EAA)](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/union-equality-strategy-rights-persons-disabilities-2021-2030/european-accessibility-act_en) took effect June 28, 2025, requiring accessible digital documents across the EU. This means more PDFs will be properly tagged with semantic structure.
+### Node.js
 
-**OpenDataLoader leverages this:**
+```bash
+npm install @opendataloader/pdf
+```
 
-- When a PDF has structure tags, we extract the **exact layout** the author intended
-- Headings, lists, tables, reading order — all preserved from the source
-- No guessing, no heuristics needed — **pixel-perfect semantic extraction**
+```typescript
+import { convert } from '@opendataloader/pdf';
 
-```python
-opendataloader_pdf.convert(
-    input_path="accessible_document.pdf",
-    use_struct_tree=True  # Use native PDF structure tags
-)
+await convert(['file1.pdf', 'file2.pdf', 'folder/'], {
+  outputDir: 'output/',
+  format: 'markdown,json'
+});
 ```
 
-Most PDF parsers ignore structure tags entirely. We're one of the few that fully support them.
+### Java
 
-[Learn more about Tagged PDF →](https://opendataloader.org/docs/tagged-pdf)
-
-<br/>
+```xml
+<dependency>
+  <groupId>org.opendataloader</groupId>
+  <artifactId>opendataloader-pdf-core</artifactId>
+</dependency>
+```
 
-## Hybrid Mode
+[Python Quick Start](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-python) | [Node.js Quick Start](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-nodejs) | [Java Quick Start](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-java)
 
-For documents with complex tables or OCR needs, enable hybrid mode to route challenging pages to an AI backend while keeping simple pages fast and local.
+## Hybrid Mode: #1 Accuracy for Complex PDFs
 
-**Results**: Table accuracy jumps from 0.49 → 0.93 (+90%) with acceptable speed trade-off.
+Hybrid mode combines fast local Java processing with AI backends. Simple pages stay local (0.05s); complex pages route to AI for +90% table accuracy.
 
 ```bash
 pip install -U "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"
 ```
 
-Terminal 1: Start the backend server
+**Terminal 1** — Start the backend server:
 
 ```bash
 opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002
 ```
 
-Terminal 2: Process PDFs with hybrid mode
+**Terminal 2** — Process PDFs:
 
 ```bash
-opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast input.pdf
+opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/
 ```
 
-Or use in Python:
+**Python:**
 
 ```python
 opendataloader_pdf.convert(
-    input_path="complex_tables.pdf",
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
     output_dir="output/",
-    hybrid="docling-fast"  # Routes complex pages to AI backend
+    hybrid="docling-fast"
 )
 ```
 
-- **Local-first**: Simple pages processed locally, complex pages routed to backend
-- **Fallback**: If backend unavailable, gracefully falls back to local processing
-- **Privacy**: Run the backend locally for 100% on-premise
+### OCR for Scanned PDFs
+
+Start the backend with `--force-ocr` for image-based PDFs with no selectable text:
+
+```bash
+opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --force-ocr
+```
+
+For non-English documents, specify the language:
+
+```bash
+opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --force-ocr --ocr-lang "ko,en"
+```
+
+Supported languages: `en`, `ko`, `ja`, `ch_sim`, `ch_tra`, `de`, `fr`, `ar`, and more.
 
 ### Formula Extraction (LaTeX)
 
-For PDFs containing mathematical formulas, enable formula enrichment to extract LaTeX representations:
+Extract mathematical formulas as LaTeX from scientific PDFs:
 
 ```bash
-# Start backend with formula enrichment
+# Server: enable formula enrichment
 opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --enrich-formula
 
-# Process with full backend mode (required for formula extraction)
-opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-mode full input.pdf
+# Client: must use full mode for enrichments
+opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-mode full file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/
 ```
 
 Output in JSON:
@@ -254,95 +232,111 @@ Output in JSON:
 }
 ```
 
-Output in Markdown:
-```markdown
-$$
-\frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h}
-$$
-```
+> **Note**: Formula and picture description enrichments require `--hybrid-mode full` on the client side.
 
-Output in HTML (MathJax/KaTeX compatible):
-```html
-<div class="math-display">\[\frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h}\]</div>
-```
+### Chart & Image Description
 
-> **Note**: Formula extraction requires `--hybrid-mode full` to route all pages to the backend where the formula enrichment model runs.
-
-### Scanned PDFs (OCR)
-
-For image-based or scanned PDFs that contain no selectable text, enable OCR on the hybrid backend:
+Generate AI descriptions for charts and images — useful for RAG search and accessibility alt text:
 
 ```bash
-# Start backend with OCR enabled
-opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --force-ocr
+# Server
+opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --enrich-picture-description
 
-# Process scanned PDF
-opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast input-scanned.pdf
+# Client (must use full mode)
+opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-mode full file1.pdf file2.pdf folder/
 ```
 
-For non-English documents, specify the OCR language:
-
-```bash
-opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --force-ocr --ocr-lang "ko,en"
+Output in JSON:
+```json
+{
+  "type": "picture",
+  "page number": 1,
+  "bounding box": [72.0, 400.0, 540.0, 650.0],
+  "description": "A bar chart showing waste generation by region from 2016 to 2030..."
+}
 ```
 
-> **Note**: Standard digital PDFs do not need `--force-ocr`. Use it only for scanned or image-based PDFs.
+> Uses SmolVLM (256M), a lightweight vision model. Custom prompts supported via `--picture-description-prompt`.
 
-> **Timeout**: OCR is CPU-intensive. For large scanned documents, increase the timeout: `opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-timeout 120000 input-scanned.pdf`
+### Hancom Data Loader Integration — Coming Soon
 
-### Picture / Chart Description (Alt Text)
+Enterprise-grade AI document analysis via [Hancom Data Loader](https://sdk.hancom.com/services/1) — customer-customized models trained on your domain-specific documents. 30+ element types (tables, charts, formulas, captions, footnotes, etc.), VLM-based image/chart understanding, complex table extraction (merged cells, nested tables), and native HWP/HWPX support. Supports PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, HWP, PNG, JPG. [Live demo](https://livedemo.sdk.hancom.com/dataloader)
 
-Generate AI-powered descriptions for images and charts in your PDFs. Useful for accessibility (alt text) and making visual content searchable in RAG pipelines.
+[Hybrid Mode Guide](https://opendataloader.org/docs/hybrid-mode)
 
-```bash
-# Start backend with picture description
-opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --enrich-picture-description
+## Output Formats
 
-# Process with full backend mode (required for picture description)
-opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-mode full input.pdf
-```
+| Format | Use Case |
+|--------|----------|
+| **JSON** | Structured data with bounding boxes, semantic types |
+| **Markdown** | Clean text for LLM context, RAG chunks |
+| **HTML** | Web display with styling |
+| **Annotated PDF** | Visual debugging — see detected structures ([sample](https://opendataloader.org/demo/samples/01030000000000)) |
+| **Text** | Plain text extraction |
+
+Combine formats: `format="json,markdown"`
+
+### JSON Output Example
 
-Output in JSON:
 ```json
 {
-  "type": "picture",
+  "type": "heading",
+  "id": 42,
+  "level": "Title",
   "page number": 1,
-  "bounding box": [72.0, 400.0, 540.0, 650.0],
-  "description": "A bar chart showing waste generation by region from 2016 to 2030..."
+  "bounding box": [72.0, 700.0, 540.0, 730.0],
+  "heading level": 1,
+  "font": "Helvetica-Bold",
+  "font size": 24.0,
+  "text color": "[0.0]",
+  "content": "Introduction"
 }
 ```
 
-Output in Markdown:
-```markdown
-![image 1](document_images/imageFile1.png)
+| Field | Description |
+|-------|-------------|
+| `type` | Element type: heading, paragraph, table, list, image, caption, formula |
+| `id` | Unique identifier for cross-referencing |
+| `page number` | 1-indexed page reference |
+| `bounding box` | `[left, bottom, right, top]` in PDF points (72pt = 1 inch) |
+| `heading level` | Heading depth (1+) |
+| `content` | Extracted text |
 
-*A bar chart showing waste generation by region from 2016 to 2030...*
-```
+[Full JSON Schema](https://opendataloader.org/docs/json-schema)
 
-Output in HTML:
-```html
-<figure>
-<img src="document_images/imageFile1.png" alt="figure1">
-<figcaption>A bar chart showing waste generation by region from 2016 to 2030...</figcaption>
-</figure>
-```
+## Advanced Features
 
-You can also customize the prompt for better results with specific document types:
+### Tagged PDF Support
 
-```bash
-opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --enrich-picture-description \
-  --picture-description-prompt "Describe this scientific figure in detail."
+When a PDF has structure tags, OpenDataLoader extracts the **exact layout** the author intended — no guessing, no heuristics. Headings, lists, tables, and reading order are preserved from the source.
+
+```python
+opendataloader_pdf.convert(
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
+    output_dir="output/",
+    use_struct_tree=True           # Use native PDF structure tags
+)
 ```
 
-> **Note**: Picture description uses SmolVLM (256M), a lightweight vision model. Results are suitable for general context but may not capture precise data values from complex charts.
+Most PDF parsers ignore structure tags entirely. [Learn more](https://opendataloader.org/docs/tagged-pdf)
 
-[Hybrid Mode Guide →](https://opendataloader.org/docs/hybrid-mode)
+### AI Safety: Prompt Injection Protection
 
-<br/>
+PDFs can contain hidden prompt injection attacks. OpenDataLoader automatically filters:
 
-## LangChain Integration
+- Hidden text (transparent, zero-size fonts)
+- Off-page content
+- Suspicious invisible layers
 
-OpenDataLoader PDF has an official LangChain integration for seamless RAG pipeline development.
+To sanitize sensitive data (emails, URLs, phone numbers → placeholders), enable it explicitly:
+
+```bash
+opendataloader-pdf input.pdf --sanitize
+```
+
+[AI Safety Guide](https://opendataloader.org/docs/ai-safety)
+
+### LangChain Integration
 
 ```bash
 pip install -U langchain-opendataloader-pdf
@@ -352,164 +346,226 @@ pip install -U langchain-opendataloader-pdf
 from langchain_opendataloader_pdf import OpenDataLoaderPDFLoader
 
 loader = OpenDataLoaderPDFLoader(
-    file_path=["document.pdf"],
+    file_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
     format="text"
 )
 documents = loader.load()
+```
 
-# Use with any LangChain pipeline
-for doc in documents:
-    print(doc.page_content[:100])
+[LangChain Docs](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/python/integrations/document_loaders/opendataloader_pdf) | [GitHub](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/langchain-opendataloader-pdf) | [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/langchain-opendataloader-pdf/)
+
+### Advanced Options
+
+```python
+opendataloader_pdf.convert(
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
+    output_dir="output/",
+    format="json,markdown,pdf",
+    image_output="embedded",        # "off", "embedded" (Base64), or "external" (default)
+    image_format="jpeg",            # "png" or "jpeg"
+    use_struct_tree=True,           # Use native PDF structure
+)
 ```
 
-- [LangChain Documentation](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/python/integrations/document_loaders/opendataloader_pdf)
-- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/langchain-opendataloader-pdf)
-- [PyPI Package](https://pypi.org/project/langchain-opendataloader-pdf/)
+[Full CLI Options Reference](https://opendataloader.org/docs/cli-options-reference)
 
-<br/>
+## PDF Accessibility & PDF/UA Conversion
 
-## Benchmarks
+**Problem**: Millions of existing PDFs lack structure tags, failing accessibility regulations (EAA, ADA/Section 508, Korea Digital Inclusion Act). Manual remediation costs $50–200 per document and doesn't scale.
 
-We continuously benchmark against real-world documents.
+**OpenDataLoader's approach**: Built in collaboration with [PDF Association](https://pdfa.org) and [Dual Lab](https://duallab.com) (developers of [veraPDF](https://verapdf.org), the industry-reference open-source PDF/A and PDF/UA validator). Auto-tagging follows the [Well-Tagged PDF specification](https://pdfa.org/resource/well-tagged-pdf/) and is validated programmatically using veraPDF — automated conformance checks against PDF accessibility standards, not manual review. No existing open-source tool generates Tagged PDFs end-to-end — most rely on proprietary SDKs for the tag-writing step. OpenDataLoader does it all under Apache 2.0. ([collaboration details](https://opendataloader.org/docs/tagged-pdf-collaboration))
 
-[View full benchmark results →](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench)
+| Regulation | Deadline | Requirement |
+|------------|----------|-------------|
+| **European Accessibility Act (EAA)** | June 28, 2025 | Accessible digital products across the EU |
+| **ADA & Section 508** | In effect | U.S. federal agencies and public accommodations |
+| **Digital Inclusion Act** | In effect | South Korea digital service accessibility |
 
-### Quick Comparison
+### Standards & Validation
 
-| Engine                      | Overall  | Reading Order | Table    | Heading  | Speed (s/page) |
-|-----------------------------|----------|---------------|----------|----------|----------------|
-| **opendataloader**          | 0.72     | 0.91          | 0.49     | 0.76     | **0.05**       |
-| **opendataloader [hybrid]** | **0.90** | **0.94**      | **0.93** | **0.83** | 0.43           |
-| docling                     | 0.86     | 0.90          | 0.89     | 0.80     | 0.73           |
-| marker                      | 0.83     | 0.89          | 0.81     | 0.80     | 53.93          |
-| mineru                      | 0.82     | 0.86          | 0.87     | 0.74     | 5.96           |
-| pymupdf4llm                 | 0.57     | 0.89          | 0.40     | 0.41     | 0.09           |
-| markitdown                  | 0.29     | 0.88          | 0.00     | 0.00     | **0.04**       |
+| Aspect | Detail |
+|--------|--------|
+| **Specification** | [Well-Tagged PDF](https://pdfa.org/resource/well-tagged-pdf/) by PDF Association |
+| **Validation** | [veraPDF](https://verapdf.org) — industry-reference open-source PDF/A & PDF/UA validator |
+| **Collaboration** | PDF Association + [Dual Lab](https://duallab.com) (veraPDF developers) co-develop tagging and validation |
+| **License** | Auto-tagging → Tagged PDF: Apache 2.0 (free). PDF/UA export: Enterprise |
 
-> Scores are normalized to [0, 1]. Higher is better for accuracy metrics; lower is better for speed. **Bold** indicates best performance.
+### Accessibility Pipeline
 
-### Visual Comparison
+| Step | Feature | Status | Tier |
+|------|---------|--------|------|
+| 1. **Audit** | Read existing PDF tags, detect untagged PDFs | Shipped | Free |
+| 2. **Auto-tag → Tagged PDF** | Generate structure tags for untagged PDFs | Coming Q2 2026 | Free (Apache 2.0) |
+| 3. **Export PDF/UA** | Convert to PDF/UA-1 or PDF/UA-2 compliant files | 💼 Available | Enterprise |
+| 4. **Visual editing** | Accessibility studio — review and fix tags | 💼 Available | Enterprise |
 
-[![Benchmark](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench/raw/refs/heads/main/charts/benchmark.png)](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench)
+> **💼 Enterprise features** are available on request. [Contact us](https://opendataloader.org/contact) to get started.
 
+### Auto-Tagging Preview (Coming Q2 2026)
 
-<br/>
+```python
+# API shape preview — available Q2 2026
+opendataloader_pdf.convert(
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
+    output_dir="output/",
+    auto_tag=True                   # Generate structure tags for untagged PDFs
+)
+```
 
-## Roadmap
+### End-to-End Compliance Workflow
 
-See our [upcoming features and priorities →](https://opendataloader.org/docs/upcoming-roadmap)
+```
+Existing PDFs (untagged)
+    │
+    ▼
+┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
+│  1. Audit       │───>│  2. Remediate   │───>│  3. Export       │
+│  (check tags)   │    │  (auto-tag)     │    │  (PDF/UA)        │
+└─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘
+        │                      │                      │
+        ▼                      ▼                      ▼
+  use_struct_tree         auto_tag              PDF/UA export
+  (Available now)    (Q2 2026, Apache 2.0)   (Enterprise)
+                                                      │
+                                                      ▼
+                                            PDF/UA-1 or PDF/UA-2
+                                            compliant output
+```
 
-<br/>
+[PDF Accessibility Guide](https://opendataloader.org/docs/accessibility-compliance)
 
-## Documentation
+## Roadmap
 
-- [Quick Start Guide](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-python)
-- [JSON Schema Reference](https://opendataloader.org/docs/json-schema)
-- [CLI Options](https://opendataloader.org/docs/cli-options-reference)
-- [Tagged PDF Support](https://opendataloader.org/docs/tagged-pdf)
-- [AI Safety Features](https://opendataloader.org/docs/ai-safety)
+| Feature | Timeline | Tier |
+|---------|----------|------|
+| **Auto-tagging → Tagged PDF** — Generate Tagged PDFs from untagged PDFs | Q2 2026 | Free |
+| **[Hancom Data Loader](https://sdk.hancom.com/services/1)** — Enterprise AI document analysis, customer-customized models, VLM-based chart/image understanding | Q2-Q3 2026 | Free |
+| **Structure validation** — Verify PDF tag trees | Q2 2026 | Planned |
 
-<br/>
+[Full Roadmap](https://opendataloader.org/docs/upcoming-roadmap)
 
 ## Frequently Asked Questions
 
 ### What is the best PDF parser for RAG?
 
-For RAG pipelines, you need a parser that preserves document structure, maintains correct reading order, and provides element coordinates for citations. OpenDataLoader is designed specifically for this use case — it outputs structured JSON with bounding boxes, handles multi-column layouts correctly with XY-Cut++, and runs locally without GPU requirements.
+For RAG pipelines, you need a parser that preserves document structure, maintains correct reading order, and provides element coordinates for citations. OpenDataLoader is designed specifically for this — it outputs structured JSON with bounding boxes, handles multi-column layouts with XY-Cut++, and runs locally without GPU. In hybrid mode, it ranks #1 overall (0.90) in benchmarks.
+
+### What is the best open-source PDF parser?
+
+OpenDataLoader PDF is the only open-source parser that combines: rule-based deterministic extraction (no GPU), bounding boxes for every element, XY-Cut++ reading order, built-in AI safety filters, native Tagged PDF support, and hybrid AI mode for complex documents. It ranks #1 in overall accuracy (0.90) while running locally on CPU.
 
 ### How do I extract tables from PDF for LLM?
 
-OpenDataLoader detects tables using both border analysis and text clustering, preserving row/column structure in the output. Tables are exported as structured data in JSON or as formatted Markdown tables, ready for LLM consumption.
+OpenDataLoader detects tables using border analysis and text clustering, preserving row/column structure. For complex tables, enable hybrid mode for +90% accuracy improvement (0.49 to 0.93 TEDS score):
+
+```python
+opendataloader_pdf.convert(
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
+    output_dir="output/",
+    format="json",
+    hybrid="docling-fast"           # For complex tables
+)
+```
+
+### How does it compare to docling, marker, or pymupdf4llm?
+
+OpenDataLoader [hybrid] ranks #1 overall (0.90) across reading order, table, and heading accuracy. Key differences: docling (0.86) is strong but lacks bounding boxes and AI safety filters. marker (0.83) requires GPU and is 100x slower (53.93s/page). pymupdf4llm (0.57) is fast but has poor table (0.40) and heading (0.41) accuracy. OpenDataLoader is the only parser that combines deterministic local extraction, bounding boxes for every element, and built-in prompt injection protection. See [full benchmark](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench).
 
 ### Can I use this without sending data to the cloud?
 
-Yes. OpenDataLoader runs 100% locally on your machine. No API calls, no data transmission — your documents never leave your environment. This makes it ideal for sensitive documents in legal, healthcare, and financial industries.
+Yes. OpenDataLoader runs 100% locally. No API calls, no data transmission — your documents never leave your environment. The hybrid mode backend also runs locally on your machine. Ideal for legal, healthcare, and financial documents.
 
-### What makes OpenDataLoader unique?
+### Does it support OCR for scanned PDFs?
 
-OpenDataLoader takes a different approach from many PDF parsers:
+Yes, via hybrid mode. Install with `pip install "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"`, start the backend with `--force-ocr`, then process as usual. Supports multiple languages including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, and more via `--ocr-lang`.
 
-- **Rule-based extraction** — Deterministic output without GPU requirements
-- **Bounding boxes for all elements** — Essential for citation systems
-- **XY-Cut++ reading order** — Handles multi-column layouts correctly
-- **Built-in AI safety filters** — Protects against prompt injection
-- **Native Tagged PDF support** — Leverages accessibility metadata
+### Does it work with Korean, Japanese, or Chinese documents?
 
-This means: consistent output (same input = same output), no GPU required, faster processing, and no model hallucinations.
+Yes. For digital PDFs, text extraction works out of the box. For scanned PDFs, use hybrid mode with `--force-ocr --ocr-lang "ko,en"` (or `ja`, `ch_sim`, `ch_tra`). Coming soon: [Hancom Data Loader](https://sdk.hancom.com/services/1) integration — enterprise-grade AI document analysis with customer-customized models optimized for your specific document types and workflows.
 
-### How do I get better accuracy for complex tables?
+### How fast is it?
 
-Enable hybrid mode with `pip install -U "opendataloader-pdf[hybrid]"`. This routes pages with complex tables to an AI backend (like docling-serve) while keeping simple pages fast and local. Table accuracy improves from 0.49 to 0.93 — matching or exceeding dedicated AI parsers while remaining faster and more cost-effective.
+Local mode processes 100+ pages per second on CPU (0.05s/page). Hybrid mode is 0.43s/page with significantly higher accuracy for complex documents. No GPU required. Benchmarked on Apple M4. [Full benchmark details](https://github.com/opendataloader-project/opendataloader-bench)
 
-### Does it work with scanned PDFs?
+### Does it handle multi-column layouts?
 
-Yes, via hybrid mode with OCR. Start the backend server with `--force-ocr`:
+Yes. OpenDataLoader uses XY-Cut++ reading order analysis to correctly sequence text across multi-column pages, sidebars, and mixed layouts. This works in both local and hybrid modes without any configuration.
 
-Terminal 1: Start backend with OCR enabled
+### What is hybrid mode?
 
-```bash
-opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --force-ocr
-```
+Hybrid mode combines fast local Java processing with an AI backend. Simple pages are processed locally (0.05s/page); complex pages (tables, scanned content, formulas, charts) are automatically routed to the AI backend for higher accuracy. The backend runs locally on your machine — no cloud required. See [Which Mode Should I Use?](#which-mode-should-i-use) and [Hybrid Mode Guide](https://opendataloader.org/docs/hybrid-mode).
 
-Terminal 2: Process scanned PDF
+### Does it work with LangChain?
 
-```bash
-opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast input-scanned.pdf
-```
+Yes. Install `langchain-opendataloader-pdf` for an official LangChain document loader integration. See [LangChain docs](https://docs.langchain.com/oss/python/integrations/document_loaders/opendataloader_pdf).
 
-Or use in Python:
+### How do I chunk PDFs for RAG?
+
+OpenDataLoader outputs structured Markdown with headings, tables, and lists preserved — ideal input for semantic chunking. Each element in JSON output includes `type`, `heading level`, and `page number`, so you can split by section or page boundary. For most RAG pipelines: parse with `format="markdown"` for text chunks, or `format="json"` when you need element-level control. Pair with LangChain's `RecursiveCharacterTextSplitter` or your own heading-based splitter for best results.
+
+### How do I cite PDF sources in RAG answers?
+
+Every element in JSON output includes a `bounding box` (`[left, bottom, right, top]` in PDF points) and `page number`. When your RAG pipeline returns an answer, map the source chunk back to its bounding box to highlight the exact location in the original PDF. This enables "click to source" UX — users see which paragraph, table, or figure the answer came from. No other open-source parser provides bounding boxes for every element by default.
+
+### How do I convert PDF to Markdown for LLM?
 
 ```python
+import opendataloader_pdf
+
 opendataloader_pdf.convert(
-    input_path="scanned.pdf",
+    input_path=["file1.pdf", "file2.pdf", "folder/"],
     output_dir="output/",
-    hybrid="docling-fast"
+    format="markdown"
 )
 ```
 
-(Start the backend with `--force-ocr` before running.)
+OpenDataLoader preserves heading hierarchy, table structure, and reading order in the Markdown output. For complex documents with borderless tables or scanned pages, use hybrid mode (`hybrid="docling-fast"`) for higher accuracy. The output is clean enough to feed directly into LLM context windows or RAG chunking pipelines.
 
-For non-English documents, add `--ocr-lang`:
+### Is there an automated PDF accessibility remediation tool?
 
-```bash
-opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --ocr-lang "ko,en"
-```
+Yes. OpenDataLoader is the first open-source tool that automates PDF accessibility end-to-end. Built in collaboration with [PDF Association](https://pdfa.org) and [Dual Lab](https://duallab.com) (veraPDF developers), auto-tagging follows the Well-Tagged PDF specification and is validated programmatically using veraPDF. The layout analysis engine detects document structure (headings, tables, lists, reading order) and generates accessibility tags automatically. Auto-tagging (Q2 2026) converts untagged PDFs into Tagged PDFs under Apache 2.0 — no proprietary SDK dependency. For organizations needing full PDF/UA compliance, enterprise add-ons provide PDF/UA export and a visual tag editor. This replaces manual remediation workflows that typically cost $50–200+ per document.
 
-### Does it work with images and charts?
+### Is this really the first open-source PDF auto-tagging tool?
 
-Two levels of support:
+Yes. Existing tools either depend on proprietary SDKs for writing structure tags, only output non-PDF formats (e.g., Docling outputs Markdown/JSON but cannot produce Tagged PDFs), or require manual intervention. OpenDataLoader is the first to do layout analysis → tag generation → Tagged PDF output entirely under an open-source license (Apache 2.0), with no proprietary dependency. Auto-tagging follows the PDF Association's Well-Tagged PDF specification and is validated using veraPDF, the industry-reference open-source PDF/A and PDF/UA validator.
 
-1. **Image extraction** (all modes): Embedded images are extracted to the output folder with bounding boxes. Use `--image-output external` (the default):
+### How do I convert existing PDFs to PDF/UA?
 
-```python
-opendataloader_pdf.convert(
-    input_path="document.pdf",
-    output_dir="output/",
-    image_output="external"  # Saves images as files with bounding boxes in JSON
-)
-```
+OpenDataLoader provides an end-to-end pipeline: audit existing PDFs for tags (`use_struct_tree=True`), auto-tag untagged PDFs into Tagged PDFs (Q2 2026, free under Apache 2.0), and export as PDF/UA-1 or PDF/UA-2 (enterprise add-on). Auto-tagging follows the PDF Association's Well-Tagged PDF specification and is validated using veraPDF. Auto-tagging generates the Tagged PDF; PDF/UA export is the final step. [Contact us](https://opendataloader.org/contact) for enterprise integration.
 
-2. **AI chart descriptions** (hybrid only): Generate natural language descriptions of charts and figures for RAG search:
+### How do I make my PDFs accessible for EAA compliance?
 
-```bash
-# Start backend with picture description enabled
-opendataloader-pdf-hybrid --port 5002 --enrich-picture-description
+The European Accessibility Act requires accessible digital products by June 28, 2025. OpenDataLoader supports the full remediation workflow: audit → auto-tag → Tagged PDF → PDF/UA export. Auto-tagging follows the PDF Association's Well-Tagged PDF specification and is validated using veraPDF, ensuring standards-compliant output. Auto-tagging to Tagged PDF will be open-sourced under Apache 2.0 (Q2 2026). PDF/UA export and accessibility studio are enterprise add-ons. See our [Accessibility Guide](https://opendataloader.org/docs/accessibility-compliance).
 
-# Process with full backend mode (required for picture description)
-opendataloader-pdf --hybrid docling-fast --hybrid-mode full input.pdf
-```
+### Is OpenDataLoader PDF free?
+
+The core library is **open-source under Apache 2.0** — free for commercial use. This includes all extraction features (text, tables, images, OCR, formulas, charts via hybrid mode), AI safety filters, Tagged PDF support, and auto-tagging to Tagged PDF (Q2 2026). We are committed to keeping the core accessibility pipeline (layout analysis → auto-tagging → Tagged PDF) free and open-source. Enterprise add-ons (PDF/UA export, accessibility studio) are available for organizations needing end-to-end regulatory compliance.
+
+### Why did the license change from MPL 2.0 to Apache 2.0?
 
-<br/>
+MPL 2.0 requires file-level copyleft, which often triggers legal review before enterprise adoption. Apache 2.0 is fully permissive — no copyleft obligations, easier to integrate into commercial projects. If you are using a pre-2.0 version, it remains under MPL 2.0 and you can continue using it. Upgrading to 2.0+ means your project follows Apache 2.0 terms, which are strictly more permissive — no additional obligations, no action needed on your side.
+
+## Documentation
+
+- [Quick Start (Python)](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-python)
+- [Quick Start (Node.js)](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-nodejs)
+- [Quick Start (Java)](https://opendataloader.org/docs/quick-start-java)
+- [JSON Schema Reference](https://opendataloader.org/docs/json-schema)
+- [CLI Options](https://opendataloader.org/docs/cli-options-reference)
+- [Hybrid Mode Guide](https://opendataloader.org/docs/hybrid-mode)
+- [Tagged PDF Support](https://opendataloader.org/docs/tagged-pdf)
+- [AI Safety Features](https://opendataloader.org/docs/ai-safety)
+- [PDF Accessibility](https://opendataloader.org/docs/accessibility-compliance)
 
 ## Contributing
 
 We welcome contributions! See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines.
 
-<br/>
-
 ## License
 
-[Mozilla Public License 2.0](LICENSE)
+[Apache License 2.0](LICENSE)
+
+> **Note:** Versions prior to 2.0 are licensed under the [Mozilla Public License 2.0](https://www.mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/).
 
 ---