{"slug": "show-hn-parse-define-the-fields-once-get-the-same-json-from-every-pdf", "title": "Show HN: Parse - define the fields once, get the same JSON from every PDF", "summary": "ConversionTools launched Parse, an AI-powered document parsing API that extracts structured JSON, CSV, or Excel from uploaded PDFs using an asynchronous submit-and-poll contract. The service returns an extraction id immediately on POST to api-parse.conversiontools.io/v1/extract and hands back structured data once processing completes, with a free tier of 100 pages per month and no signup or credit card required.", "body_md": "AI-powered document parsing that understands your data. Upload a PDF, get structured data back as JSON, CSV, or Excel.\n\n```\n================================\n     TRADER JOE'S  #502\n1800 N Vermont Ave\nLos Angeles, CA 90027\n================================\n02/20/2026  3:42 PM   Reg: 03\nCashier: MARIA     #4821\n--------------------------------\nORG BANANAS          0.99\nWHOLE MILK 1GAL      4.29\nSOURDOUGH BREAD      4.49\nEVERYTHING BAGELS    3.99\nSPARKLING WATER      1.29\nOLIVE OIL 500ML      6.99\nPENNE PASTA          1.29\nCRUSHED TOMATOES     1.99\n--------------------------------\nSUBTOTAL            25.32\nTAX  9.5%            2.41\nTOTAL               27.73\nVISA ***4829        27.73\n--------------------------------\nTHANK YOU FOR SHOPPING\n     AT TRADER JOE'S!\n================================\n```\n\nTry with your own document\n\nClick to upload or drag and drop - no signup needed\n\nNo credit card required · 100 pages/month free\n\nThe async contract\n\nExtraction does not hold your request open. Parse answers straight away with an id, reads the document in the background, and hands back structured JSON when it is ready. Here is one sample three-page invoice going through it, second by second.\n\nNo credit card required - 30 pages/month free\n\nSubmit the file, keep the id, and ask for it until the status changes. Everything else - schemas, exports, webhooks - is built on those two calls.\n\n```\n# 1. submit - the call returns straight away\ncurl -X POST https://api-parse.conversiontools.io/v1/extract \\\n  -H \"Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY\" \\\n  -F \"file=@invoice.pdf\"\n\n# 202  { \"id\": \"ext_9f2c41d7\", \"status\": \"processing\" }\n\n# 2. poll that id until it stops saying \"processing\"\ncurl https://api-parse.conversiontools.io/v1/extractions/ext_9f2c41d7 \\\n  -H \"Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY\"\n\n# 200  { \"status\": \"completed\", \"data\": { ... } }\n```\n\nBuilt by developers, for developers. We handle the complexity so you don't have to.\n\nParse integrates into any pipeline where documents need to become data.\n\nYou Got the Data Out. Why Is It Still a Mess?\n\nParsing a document is the easy part now. The real work is turning that output into the same clean fields every time - here is the gap that breaks pipelines, and how to close it.\n\nRead more\nHow I prepare my VAT report from a pile of supplier invoices\n\nA founder walkthrough: define the fields once, then turn every supplier PDF invoice into the same structured JSON for a VAT return - no manual re-typing.\n\nRead more", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-parse-define-the-fields-once-get-the-same-json-from-every-pdf", "canonical_source": "https://parse.conversiontools.io", "published_at": "2026-09-30 13:37:21+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-30 13:49:43.703345+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-products", "ai-tools", "developer-tools", "structured-data"], "entities": ["Parse", "ConversionTools", "Trader Joe's"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-parse-define-the-fields-once-get-the-same-json-from-every-pdf", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-parse-define-the-fields-once-get-the-same-json-from-every-pdf.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-parse-define-the-fields-once-get-the-same-json-from-every-pdf.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-parse-define-the-fields-once-get-the-same-json-from-every-pdf.jsonld"}}