2026-09-24
How OCR Works in Your Browser
Learn how browser OCR turns text in images into editable text using image processing, recognition models and language data.
Overview
OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, converts visible text inside an image or scanned page into machine-readable characters. Browser-based OCR performs this recognition using code running on the user's device.
Step 1: load the image
The browser reads the selected image.
Step 2: preprocess the image
OCR quality can improve when the image is resized, deskewed, converted to grayscale or otherwise prepared for recognition.
Step 3: load recognition resources
An OCR engine may need language-specific recognition data. These files can be downloaded to the browser. Format Convertly's OCR uses Tesseract.js and may load language packs from a CDN when recognition starts.
Step 4: recognize characters
The OCR engine analyzes shapes, spacing and patterns to predict letters, words and lines.
Step 5: return text
Recognized content can be placed into an editable text area or exported.
Why OCR is not perfect
Accuracy depends on image quality, resolution, font, language, layout, handwriting, rotation and background noise. Format Convertly does not promise 100% OCR accuracy.
Privacy distinction
Downloading an OCR language pack is not the same as uploading the user's image. For supported local OCR workflows, recognition runs in the browser after required resources load.
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