qpdf

Spec sheet

Purpose

qpdf is a command-line tool and C++ library for content-preserving transformations of PDF files.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Intended users

The project describes qpdf as a low-level tool for people who want programmatic or command-line-based PDF manipulation.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Platforms

The project documents Windows builds, provides macOS binaries, and says qpdf is included in most Linux distributions.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Integrations

The project provides a C++ library for reading and rewriting PDF files, with helper classes for operations such as enumerating and adding or removing pages.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.readthedocs.io

Support

The project links to online documentation, release documentation, a wiki, and an announcements mailing list.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

License

qpdf is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Annotation tools

NoRead 21 Sep 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Capabilities

It supports linearization, encryption, splitting and merging, PDF creation when you supply the content, and PDF inspection.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Distribution security

Official releases are signed using cosign and include a SHA-256 checksum file that users can verify.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Encryption caveat

qpdf warns about weak cryptographic algorithms but retains the ability to read and write files using weak encryption for compatibility with older PDFs and readers.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Encryption safeguard

Since version 11.0, qpdf refuses by default to write files using RC4 encryption unless the user allows weak cryptography.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.readthedocs.io

Language interfaces

The documentation includes guidance for using the qpdf library from C++ and other languages.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.readthedocs.io

Library use

The qpdf library can be linked using pkg-config with package name libqpdf or CMake with package name qpdf.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Limits

qpdf does not render PDFs, extract text, or provide higher-level interfaces for working with page contents.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Linux availability

The project says qpdf is included in virtually all Linux distributions and also offers AppImage downloads and standalone binaries for Linux.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

macOS availability

The project offers standalone binaries for Apple silicon and Intel macOS, and says qpdf is also available through Homebrew and MacPorts.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

macOS distribution note

The project says its macOS binaries are not signed with an Apple Developer ID or notarized, and downloaded files require removal of the quarantine attribute.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

macOS security limitation

The project says its macOS binaries are not signed with an Apple Developer ID or notarized and require removing the quarantine attribute before use.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

PDF operations

It supports linearization, encryption, splitting and merging files, creating PDFs when you supply the content, and inspecting PDFs.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Scope

qpdf does not render PDFs, extract text, or provide higher-level interfaces for working with page contents.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Supported platforms

Linux,Windows,macOSRead 21 Sep 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Text editing

NoRead 21 Sep 2026 · qpdf.sourceforge.io

Validation limitation

The project says qpdf is not a strict PDF checker and may not notice or report some PDF specification violations.Read 12 Oct 2026 · qpdf.readthedocs.io

Windows availability

The project offers Windows binaries and installers, including 64-bit, ARM64, and 32-bit builds.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Where Specifiction places it

• PDF editors#94 of 1027.2