Upload Files

Upload Files

The Upload Files API is a flexible tool that simplifies how developers get files onto the pdfRest server for processing. While it is an optional step, this tool is ideal for pre-processing by enabling you to upload one or more files from your local storage or directly from a public URL. By using the Upload Files API, you can replace more complex multipart/form-data requests with simpler single-part JSON payloads for subsequent processing calls.

Key Benefits of Upload Files API

  • Streamline API requests by pre-uploading files and using a simple resource ID in subsequent calls, avoiding the need for complex multipart/form-data payloads.
  • Upload multiple files at once from local storage or public URLs, providing an efficient way to transfer and manage a batch of files in a single request.
  • Conveniently upload files from a public URL, a feature unique to this tool that simplifies workflows by directly fetching files from an external source.
  • Maintain data security and privacy with robust GDPR and HIPAA compliance, ensuring your files are encrypted and processed securely.
  • Simplify file management with an intuitive JSON response that associates each uploaded file's original name with a unique resource ID for easy tracking.
  • Support for flexible upload methods, including single-part binary payloads for individual files and multipart/form-data for multiple files.
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Why does pdfRest API offer the most convenient file uploads?
pdfRest offers the best solution for uploading files for processing, because it supports multiple files at once, upload from URL, and intuitive responses for easy resource tracking.

Multiple Files at Once

Easily upload many files with one API Call. There is no limit to the number of files you may upload at once. Choose between uploading files from local storage or files from public URLs. Receive a response with convenient reference IDs associated with each file to use for subsequent processing steps. Note that a file size limit applies to the total of all files included in the call - see your plan details on the Pricing page for more information about upload file size limits.

Upload from URL

If your files are hosted somewhere accessible by public URL, you can easily pass those URLs into the Upload Files API Tool without the need to download them to your own local storage first. pdfRest will directly download files from specified URLs to the processing server, saving you time and avoiding unnecessary storage requirements. You can even pass multiple URLs with the same call to upload many files from URL at once!

Keep Track of Uploads

Streamline your workflow by pre-uploading files before processing. The Upload Files API Tool makes it easy to upload files in advance and store information about each uploaded file. This tool returns a JSON response intuitively arranged to help you associate your uploaded file names with their generated resource IDs. These resource IDs can be used to initiate subsequent processing steps for uploaded files.

Start from Code Examples
See more code examples in our GitHub repository

Need more help?

Start with a Tutorial for step-by-step guidance

How to Upload a Single Binary File to pdfRest in .NET with C#
How to Upload Multiple Files to pdfRest in .NET with C#
Customize Your Solution

Learn about the parameters for this tool to create your custom solution.

File

Local file to be uploaded.

This parameter may be included multiple times to upload multiple files but may not be combined with url parameter.

See Documentation

Safe & Secure

Confidently process your sensitive data with pdfRest. Our platform is fortified for robust, Enterprise-grade security and compliance, including GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 Type 2 certification in progress. Your data's protection is our priority.

Frequently Asked Questions
Need more help? Contact Us or visit our documentation.

The Upload Files API is a REST API tool that allows you to flexibly upload one or more files to the pdfRest processing server. This tool is a pre-processing step for subsequent API calls, enabling you to get files onto the server from either your local storage or a public URL.

No, using the Upload Files API is not a required step. While it is a convenient helper tool, all of pdfRest's processing tools also support direct file uploads within the same processing call. However, there are advantages to uploading files ahead of time, such as simplifying your API requests. By pre-uploading, you can avoid more complicated multipart/form-data calls and instead pass the file's resource ID along with other parameters in a simpler, single-part JSON payload.

Yes, the Upload Files API supports single-part binary file uploads. You can upload a single file directly in the request body by setting the Content-Type header to application/octet-stream and providing the file's name and extension in the Content-Filename header.

Yes, the API supports uploading multiple files in a single request. This is accomplished by using a multipart/form-data request, which allows you to include multiple files from your local storage or a public URL in one efficient API call.

pdfRest offers the most convenient file uploads because it supports multiple files at once and allows you to upload them directly from a public URL, a feature only supported by this specific tool. Additionally, the API provides an intuitive JSON response that makes it easy to keep track of each uploaded file by associating its original name with a unique resource ID for subsequent processing.

Ensuring the security and privacy of your data is a top priority at pdfRest. Our platform is built for robust, enterprise-grade security and compliance, including GDPR and HIPAA. All your files are secured with encryption during both transit and at-rest, and they are permanently deleted after the stated file retention period (30 minutes for most plans). For complete details, please refer to our Data Processing Agreement (DPA).

To facilitate GDPR compliance for your file uploads, pdfRest processes your data within the European Union and adheres to other strict data protection requirements. You can ensure all processing occurs within the EU by sending your API calls to the dedicated EU endpoint, https://eu-api.pdfrest.com/upload. Please note that a GDPR usage fee may apply for some plans. For more information, please review our Data Processing Agreement.

Integrating the Upload Files API is straightforward. We offer comprehensive API documentation and code samples in many programming languages. The API Lab also allows you to test and generate code snippets directly from your browser, simplifying the setup and ensuring a smooth integration experience.

Yes, pdfRest offers two self-hosted options that support the Upload Files API. The pdfRest API Toolkit on AWS allows you to deploy and manage your own backend processing infrastructure within your AWS environment with pay-as-you-go pricing through the AWS Marketplace. The pdfRest API Toolkit Container provides ultimate environmental control as a Docker Container, giving you the flexibility to run the API in on-premises data centers or public/private cloud environments with a flexible, custom licensing model.

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