Understanding OCR File Formats - HOCR vs ALTO vs PDF/A Explained
Last Updated: 05 Jan, 2026
If you’ve ever scanned a document and wondered how computers transform images of text into searchable, editable content, you’ve encountered the world of Optical Character Recognition (OCR). But the story doesn’t end with simply extracting text from images. The real magic happens in how that information gets stored and structured.
When you digitize historical archives, process business invoices, or convert printed books into digital libraries, choosing the right OCR output format becomes critical.
PDF/A-3 - The Hybrid Monster? Embedding Original Data Inside Your OCR
Last Updated: 29 Dec, 2025
In the world of document digitization, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is often seen as the final step—scan, recognize text, archive, done. But modern compliance, automation, and data-driven workflows demand more than just searchable PDFs. They require traceability, machine-readable structure, and long-term archival guarantees.
This is where PDF/A-3 enters the scene—often misunderstood, sometimes controversial, and undeniably powerful. Many developers call it “the hybrid monster” because it allows something earlier PDF/A standards strictly forbade: embedding original source files directly inside an archival PDF.
Compare TXT vs. Searchable PDF vs. Word (DOCX) - Which OCR Output is Best?
Last Updated: 12 Aug, 2025
So, you’ve just scanned a document and run it through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. Now you’re faced with a choice: how should you save the output? The three most common formats TXT, Searchable PDF, and Word (DOCX), each offer unique advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right one can save you hours of frustration and make your workflow significantly more efficient. The three most common options are: