Compress PDF Feature API & SDK
Reduce File Size Without Sacrificing QualityPowerful PDF Compression Technology for
Development Teams
Our Compress PDF API and SDK provide developers with a robust, production-ready solution for reducing PDF file sizes without compromising document quality. Built specifically for software development teams, system integrators, and ISVs who need to incorporate PDF compression capabilities into their applications or workflows.
The compression engine works by intelligently analyzing document content, identifying redundancies, and applying advanced encoding techniques to minimize file size while preserving visual fidelity. With support for multiple compression levels, password-protected files, and selective page processing, our solution gives development teams complete control over the compression process.
Whether you're building document management systems, web applications, or automated workflow tools, our PDF compression technology eliminates the complexity of implementing this critical functionality from scratch, allowing you to focus on your core application features.
Customizable Compression Levels
Control the balance between file size reduction and quality preservation with five distinct compression levels:
- Min
Minimal compression for maximum quality retention
- High
Aggressive compression with acceptable quality trade-offs
- Low
Light compression with negligible quality impact
- Max
Maximum compression for smallest possible file size
- Medium
Balanced compression for general-purpose use
This granular control allows developers to tailor compression settings to specific use cases, from high-fidelity archiving to bandwidth-optimized web delivery.
Technical Implementation
RESTful API Integration
Implement PDF compression with a simple POST request:
Request Parameters:
POST/pdf-compress/v1
- file (multipart/form-data): The PDF file to compress (max 10MB)
- password (string, optional): Password to open protected files
- pages (string, optional): Specific pages to process (e.g., "1,3,5-9")
- quality (string, optional): Compression level (min, low, medium, high, max)
Response:
{
"id":"3fa85f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6"
}
The returned operation ID can be used to check processing status and retrieve the compressed file:
GET/operation/v1/{operationId}/status
This architecture makes the API suitable for both synchronous and asynchronous integration patterns, accommodating various application architectures and processing requirements.SDK Implementation
For developers who prefer direct integration within their codebase, our SDK provides native bindings for popular programming languages including Java, .NET, Python, and Node.js. The SDK handles all the complexity of file handling, request formatting, and response parsing, offering a clean, object-oriented interface for compression operations:
// Node.js SDK example
const pdfCompressor =require('pdf-compressor-sdk')
// Initialize with your API key
const compressor = new pdf Compressor. Compressor('YOUR_API_KEY');
// Compress a PDF file
compressor.compressFile({
filePath:'/path/to/document.pdf',
quality:'medium',
pages:'1-5',
password:'optional-password'
})
.then(result => {
console.log(`Compressed file saved to: $ {result.outputPath}`);
console.log(`Original size: $ {result.originalSize}bytes`);
console.log(`Compressed size: $ {result.compressedSize}bytes`);
console.log(`Reduction: $ {result.reductionPercentage}%`);
})
.catch(error => {
console.log('Compression failed:', error);
});
The SDK automatically handles authentication, request retries, and error management, providing a robust foundation for production applications.Implement on-the-fly compression for PDF downloads and uploads to improve user experience:
Reduce page load times by delivering smaller files
Decrease bandwidth consumption for mobile users
Enable faster uploads of user-submitted documents
Improve application responsiveness when handling PDF content
Build PDF compression into automated document processing pipelines:
Compress documents before distribution via email
Reduce file sizes before archiving to cold storage
Optimize documents for inclusion in reports or presentations
Process batches of historical documents to reclaim storage space
Flexible Deployment Models
Choose the implementation approach that best fits your architecture and requirements:
Frequently Asked Questions
Will compression affect text searchability or metadata?
No. Our compression technology preserves document structure, text content, and metadata. Compressed PDFs maintain full text searchability and all embedded metadata fields.
How does compression affect image quality in PDFs?
Image quality changes depend on the chosen compression level. At "min" and "low" settings, visual differences are typically imperceptible. At "high" and "max" settings, some image quality reduction may be noticeable but text remains crisp and readable.
Can I compress password-protected files?
Yes. Simply provide the password as a parameter when making the compression request. The compressed output will maintain the original security settings.
What are the file size limitations?
The API accepts files up to 10MB per request. For larger files, we recommend using the SDK with chunked processing or contacting us about enterprise options for high-volume needs.
How do I monitor compression performance?
Both the API and SDK provide detailed metrics on original and compressed file sizes, allowing you to track compression ratios and performance across your document sets.
Get Started with PDF Compression
Note: Size and daily usage limitations may apply based on your subscription plan.