Can redacted text be recovered?

No. Affected pages are fully rasterized — the underlying text data is permanently destroyed, unlike a simple black overlay.

What does 'rasterized' mean?

The page is converted to a bitmap image at that step. Text on redacted pages becomes non-selectable in the output.

Should I verify the output?

Always. Open the downloaded PDF and search for redacted terms to confirm they cannot be found before sharing.

Zero upload
Local CPU
Offline-capable
Auto cleanup

0 outbound requests

annotate / Redact

Redact

Black out content and remove the underlying text.

Redaction is irreversible. Always verify by searching redacted terms in the output before sharing.

Add at least one PDF in the file tray to begin.

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Methodology & Technical Transparency

Libraries used

pdf-lib — Core PDF construction and editing logic
pdf.js — PDF rendering and page rasterisation

Memory strategy

After each operation, URL.revokeObjectURL() is called immediately. All pdf.js document handles are destroyed via pdfDoc.destroy(). Workers are terminated on completion or component unmount.

We do not guarantee the permanent storage of files (as we don't store them). Processing of password-protected files is not supported locally.

Key Features

Draw redaction zones
Click and drag directly on the rendered page to place precise black rectangles over sensitive content.
Irreversible pixel destruction
Redacted areas are rasterized — the original text data is completely removed from the PDF, not just hidden.
Multi-page support
Navigate between pages and add redaction boxes on any page before applying in a single pass.

Common Use Cases

Essential for legal filings that require hiding personal identifiers (SSN, date of birth), sharing medical records with third parties, or preparing court documents under FOIA or GDPR obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can redacted text be recovered?: No. Affected pages are fully rasterized — the underlying text data is permanently destroyed, unlike a simple black overlay.
What does 'rasterized' mean?: The page is converted to a bitmap image at that step. Text on redacted pages becomes non-selectable in the output.
Should I verify the output?: Always. Open the downloaded PDF and search for redacted terms to confirm they cannot be found before sharing.