PDF Tools
Merge multiple PDFs into one file, or split and extract specific pages — all processed locally in your browser. Your files never leave your device.
Drag PDFs here or click to select
Up to 20files — PDF only
Why use our online PDF Tools?
Handle PDF documents directly in your browser without uploading sensitive files to a third-party server. Merge multiple PDFs, split pages, and compress file size — all processed locally.
How to use PDF Tools
- 1Choose an operation
Select either Merge PDFs (combine multiple files into one) or Extract Pages (pull specific pages from a PDF).
- 2Upload your PDF files
Drag and drop one or more PDF files onto the upload area, or click to browse. For merging, upload multiple files and reorder them as needed.
- 3Configure options
For extraction, enter the page numbers or ranges you want (e.g. 1, 3-5, 7). For merging, drag files to set the final order.
- 4Download the result
Click Process to generate the output PDF, then download it directly to your device. No sign-up needed.
How browser-based PDF processing works
This tool processes PDFs entirely in your browser using the pdf-lib JavaScript library — the same library used by many server-side Node.js applications. pdf-lib reads the binary PDF structure, parses the cross-reference table that maps page objects, and reconstructs the document in memory as a JavaScript object. Merging and page extraction are done by copying PDF page objects from one document into another and writing a new PDF byte stream.
Because everything runs locally, there is no upload latency and no file size limit imposed by the tool (your browser's memory is the only limit). For most documents, processing is nearly instant. Very large PDFs with many high-resolution images or complex vector graphics may take several seconds as the library parses the entire binary structure before operating on it.
One important limitation: this tool cannot process password-encrypted PDFs. The encryption wrapper prevents the library from accessing page content without the decryption key. If you need to work with a protected PDF, you must remove the password in another application first.
Merging vs splitting PDFs — choosing the right operation
Merging PDFs combines multiple documents into one file with pages in a sequence you control. Common use cases include: combining a cover letter and resume into a single application file, assembling monthly reports into an annual compilation, packaging multiple contracts into one submission, or collating scanned document pages that were processed as separate files.
Splitting (page extraction) takes a single PDF and pulls out specific pages. Use cases include: extracting specific appendices from a large report, pulling a single invoice page from a multi-invoice statement, separating a combined contract into individual sections for different parties, or archiving specific pages from a larger document.
A tip for extraction: if you need pages 1–3 and 8–10 from a 20-page document, enter those ranges in the page selector (1-3, 8-10) to extract them into one output PDF rather than running two separate extractions.
PDF page numbers, metadata, and what merge preserves
When merging PDFs, the page numbering in the output document restarts from 1 regardless of the numbering in the source documents. If you need consecutive numbering that reflects the original page references, you will need to edit the merged PDF in a full editor to update any cross-references or table-of-contents links.
Document metadata — the title, author, subject, and keywords stored in the PDF properties — comes from the first document in the merge by default. If you care about metadata accuracy, update it in the output file using a PDF editor.
Hyperlinks, bookmarks, and form fields within individual pages are generally preserved when merging or extracting. However, cross-document bookmarks (links that jump to a page in a different source PDF) will break because the page references no longer resolve in the merged document. Internal links within a single page or section typically survive correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?
- No. PDF processing happens entirely in your browser using the pdf-lib library. Your files never leave your device.
Is there a page or file size limit?
- There is no enforced limit. However, very large PDFs (100+ MB) or documents with many pages may take longer to process depending on your hardware.
Can I merge password-protected PDFs?
- Password-protected PDFs cannot be merged or extracted without first removing the password. The tool currently does not support unlocking PDFs.
What order are PDFs merged in?
- PDFs are merged in the order they appear in the upload list. You can drag and reorder the files before processing.
Related Tools
PDF to Word
Convert PDF files to editable Word documents (DOCX) — free, instant, runs in your browser.
PDF to JPG
Convert PDF pages to high-quality JPG images — free, no upload, runs entirely in your browser.
JPG to PDF
Convert JPG images to a PDF document — combine multiple photos into one file in your browser.
Image to PDF
Convert JPG, PNG, WebP, and other images to PDF — batch convert and combine in your browser.
Markdown Editor
Live preview markdown rendering engine.