PDF.co

Access the PDF.co API with managed authentication. Convert, merge, split, and edit PDFs with full document manipulation capabilities.

Quick Start

# Get PDF info
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'url': 'https://example.com/sample.pdf'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/pdf-co/v1/pdf/info', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Base URL

https://gateway.maton.ai/pdf-co/{native-api-path}

Replace {native-api-path} with the actual PDF.co API endpoint path. The gateway proxies requests to api.pdf.co and automatically injects your API credentials.

Authentication

All requests require the Maton API key in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY

Environment Variable: Set your API key as MATON_API_KEY:

export MATON_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

Getting Your API Key

1. Sign in or create an account at maton.ai
2. Go to maton.ai/settings
3. Copy your API key

Connection Management

Manage your PDF.co connections at https://ctrl.maton.ai.

List Connections

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections?app=pdf-co&status=ACTIVE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Create Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'app': 'pdf-co'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Get Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Response:

{
  "connection": {
    "connection_id": "21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80",
    "status": "ACTIVE",
    "creation_time": "2025-12-08T07:20:53.488460Z",
    "last_updated_time": "2026-01-31T20:03:32.593153Z",
    "url": "https://connect.maton.ai/?session_token=...",
    "app": "pdf-co",
    "metadata": {}
  }
}

Open the returned url in a browser to complete authorization.

Delete Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}', method='DELETE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Specifying Connection

If you have multiple PDF.co connections, specify which one to use with the Maton-Connection header:

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'url': 'https://example.com/sample.pdf'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/pdf-co/v1/pdf/info', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
req.add_header('Maton-Connection', '21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

If omitted, the gateway uses the default (oldest) active connection.

API Reference

PDF Information

Get metadata and information about a PDF file.

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/info
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf"
}

Convert PDF to Text

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/to/text
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "0-",
  "inline": true
}

Response:

{
  "body": "Extracted text content...",
  "pageCount": 5,
  "error": false,
  "status": 200,
  "name": "document.txt",
  "credits": 10,
  "remainingCredits": 9990
}

Convert PDF to CSV

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/to/csv
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "0-",
  "inline": true,
  "lang": "eng"
}

Convert PDF to JSON

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/to/json
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "0-",
  "inline": true
}

Convert PDF to HTML

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/to/html
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "0-",
  "name": "output.html"
}

Convert PDF to XLSX (Excel)

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/to/xlsx
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "0-",
  "name": "output.xlsx"
}

Convert PDF to PNG

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/to/png
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "0",
  "name": "page.png"
}

Convert PDF to JPG

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/to/jpg
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "0",
  "name": "page.jpg"
}

Convert HTML to PDF

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/from/html
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "html": "<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>",
  "name": "output.pdf",
  "paperSize": "Letter",
  "orientation": "Portrait",
  "margins": "10 10 10 10"
}

Response:

{
  "url": "https://pdf-temp-files.s3.amazonaws.com/...",
  "pageCount": 1,
  "error": false,
  "status": 200,
  "name": "output.pdf",
  "remainingCredits": 9980
}

Convert URL to PDF

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/convert/from/url
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "name": "webpage.pdf",
  "paperSize": "A4",
  "orientation": "Portrait"
}

Merge PDFs

Combine multiple PDFs into a single document.

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/merge
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/doc1.pdf,https://example.com/doc2.pdf",
  "name": "merged.pdf"
}

Response:

{
  "url": "https://pdf-temp-files.s3.amazonaws.com/merged.pdf",
  "pageCount": 10,
  "error": false,
  "status": 200,
  "name": "merged.pdf",
  "remainingCredits": 9970,
  "duration": 1500
}

Split PDF

Split a PDF into multiple files.

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/split
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "1-3,4-6,7-"
}

Response:

{
  "urls": [
    "https://pdf-temp-files.s3.amazonaws.com/part1.pdf",
    "https://pdf-temp-files.s3.amazonaws.com/part2.pdf",
    "https://pdf-temp-files.s3.amazonaws.com/part3.pdf"
  ],
  "pageCount": 10,
  "error": false,
  "status": 200,
  "remainingCredits": 9960
}

Delete Pages

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/edit/delete-pages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "pages": "2,4,6"
}

Add Text and Images

Add text, images, or other content to a PDF.

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/edit/add
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "name": "annotated.pdf",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "text": "CONFIDENTIAL",
      "x": 100,
      "y": 100,
      "size": 24,
      "pages": "0-"
    }
  ]
}

Search and Replace Text

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/edit/replace-text
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "searchString": "old text",
  "replaceString": "new text"
}

Search and Delete Text

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/edit/delete-text
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "searchString": "text to remove"
}

Add Password

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/security/add
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "ownerPassword": "owner123",
  "userPassword": "user456"
}

Remove Password

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/security/remove
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "password": "currentpassword"
}

AI Invoice Parser

Automatically extract structured data from invoices.

POST /pdf-co/v1/ai-invoice-parser
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/invoice.pdf"
}

Document Parser

Extract data using templates.

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/documentparser
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
  "templateId": "your-template-id"
}

Generate Barcode

POST /pdf-co/v1/barcode/generate
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "value": "1234567890",
  "type": "QRCode",
  "name": "barcode.png"
}

Read Barcode

POST /pdf-co/v1/barcode/read/from/url
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/barcode.png",
  "types": "QRCode,Code128,Code39,EAN13,UPCA"
}

Check Job Status (Async)

For async operations, check job status.

POST /pdf-co/v1/job/check
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "jobId": "abc123"
}

Async Processing

For large files or batch operations, use async processing:

POST /pdf-co/v1/pdf/merge
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/large1.pdf,https://example.com/large2.pdf",
  "async": true,
  "name": "merged.pdf"
}

Response:

{
  "jobId": "abc123",
  "status": "working",
  "error": false
}

Then poll the job status:

POST /pdf-co/v1/job/check
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "jobId": "abc123"
}

Code Examples

JavaScript

const response = await fetch(
  'https://gateway.maton.ai/pdf-co/v1/pdf/merge',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.MATON_API_KEY}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      url: 'https://example.com/doc1.pdf,https://example.com/doc2.pdf',
      name: 'merged.pdf'
    })
  }
);
const result = await response.json();
console.log(result.url);

Python

import os
import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://gateway.maton.ai/pdf-co/v1/pdf/merge',
    headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}'},
    json={
        'url': 'https://example.com/doc1.pdf,https://example.com/doc2.pdf',
        'name': 'merged.pdf'
    }
)
result = response.json()
print(result['url'])

Notes

• All file URLs must be publicly accessible or use PDF.co temporary storage
• Multiple URLs for merge operations should be comma-separated
• Page indices are 0-based (first page is 0)
• Page ranges use format: 0-2 (pages 0,1,2), 3- (page 3 to end), 0,2,4 (specific pages)
• Output files are stored temporarily and expire after 60 minutes by default
• Use async: true for large files to avoid timeout
• Use inline: true to get content directly in response instead of URL
• IMPORTANT: When using curl commands, use curl -g when URLs contain brackets to disable glob parsing
• IMPORTANT: When piping curl output to jq or other commands, environment variables like $MATON_API_KEY may not expand correctly in some shell environments

Error Handling

Troubleshooting: API Key Issues

1. Check that the MATON_API_KEY environment variable is set:

echo $MATON_API_KEY

2. Verify the API key is valid by listing connections:

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Troubleshooting: Invalid App Name

1. Ensure your URL path starts with pdf-co. For example:

• Correct: https://gateway.maton.ai/pdf-co/v1/pdf/merge
• Incorrect: https://gateway.maton.ai/v1/pdf/merge

Resources

• PDF.co API Documentation
• PDF.co API Reference
• Maton Community
• Maton Support