PDF ANNOTATION LIBRARY
Add powerful tools and annotation capabilities to your apps
Empower your users to highlight text, add notes, draw freely, and explore more than 15 rich annotation types — all easily integrated and seamlessly aligned with the PDF spec.
How it works
The cornerstone of document collaboration
We designed our annotation tools with ease of use in mind, allowing you to provide your users with a document collaboration Swiss Army knife.
step 1
Open the PDF or an image document and select an annotation type (text highlighter, shape annotations, notes, stamps, etc.)
Step 2
Customize your annotations by changing color, border lines, and note icons; creating custom stamps; and more.
step 3
Check out document security permissions, and set specific controls and limitations on annotations.
KEY FEATURES
The tools of the trade
An easy-to-use annotation system with a set of powerful tools that will make your apps essential solutions for document handling in any business environment.
Toolbar
The annotation toolbar enables quick access to all the annotation types in the PDF spec. It’s fully customizable, and it even supports predefined pen tool settings for seamless switching between visual annotation styles.
The annotation toolbar enables quick access to all the annotation types in the PDF spec. It’s fully customizable, and it even supports predefined pen tool settings for seamless switching between visual annotation styles.
Note
Note annotations let you add longer comments to PDF documents. You can also select a custom icon shape and color for the note through the custom note inspector.
Note annotations let you add longer comments to PDF documents. You can also select a custom icon shape and color for the note through the custom note inspector.
Ink
With ink annotations, you can add predefined shapes and create freeform drawings on a PDF document. Color and line thickness are easily adjustable via the annotation inspector in the toolbar.
With ink annotations, you can add predefined shapes and create freeform drawings on a PDF document. Color and line thickness are easily adjustable via the annotation inspector in the toolbar.
Text
Add new rich text directly to the page, and take advantage of many convenient features, like automatic annotation sizing, rotating, grouping, custom font selection, justification, and more.
Add new rich text directly to the page, and take advantage of many convenient features, like automatic annotation sizing, rotating, grouping, custom font selection, justification, and more.
NoZoom Annotation
Set the noZoom property to enhance usability and ensure a consistent viewing experience. All annotations remain the same size, regardless of the PDF’s zoom level.
Set the noZoom property to enhance usability and ensure a consistent viewing experience. All annotations remain the same size, regardless of the PDF’s zoom level.
Enhanced Stamps with Baseline UI
Save a stamp in the browser’s local storage so you can reuse it without having to create a new stamp each time. Customize the stamp to automatically pull in the user ID of the person editing the PDF.
Save a stamp in the browser’s local storage so you can reuse it without having to create a new stamp each time. Customize the stamp to automatically pull in the user ID of the person editing the PDF.
Inspector
The context-sensitive annotation inspector provides fine-grained control over how annotations look — from border and fill colors, to opacity and font settings.
The context-sensitive annotation inspector provides fine-grained control over how annotations look — from border and fill colors, to opacity and font settings.
Benefits
Reimagine collaboration, one annotation at a time
Simplify teamwork with powerful annotation tools that let users create, edit, and share feedback easily and intuitively.
Customization that feels effortless
Personalize every detail with custom icons, reusable stamps, and consistent annotation views — perfect for any document.
Efficiency and security, perfectly balanced
Save time with batch editing, and protect content with smart permission controls for a secure, efficient user experience.
Android PDF SDK
Want to bring advanced PDF features into your Android app without reinventing the wheel? The Nutrient Android PDF SDK delivers high-fidelity rendering, powerful annotation tools, and seamless integration — all designed to help you build innovative solutions faster.
What is an Android PDF SDK?
An Android PDF SDK is a set of software tools that lets you display, edit, and manage PDF documents directly within your Android app. Think of it like a virtual “printer-scanner” for your mobile software — only much faster and with far more functionality. By integrating an Android PDF SDK, you save time coding everything from scratch and offer your users a better, more seamless experience.
- Lets users view, annotate, and edit PDFs right inside your app.
- Simplifies document tasks like merging, splitting, or password-protecting PDFs.
- Saves development time with prebuilt, reliable PDF components.
- Ensures a consistent, high-fidelity viewing experience across Android devices.
How to choose the right Android PDF SDK software
Picking the best Android PDF SDK can feel like choosing the perfect tool from a fully stocked garage. You want something that delivers power and precision without the extra hassle. Focus on your app’s core needs first — such as rendering quality or annotation features — and then compare how different SDKs handle each requirement.
- Check if it supports all necessary PDF operations (e.g. annotation, forms, security).
- Review compatibility with AndroidX, React Native, or Flutter if you plan cross-platform apps.
- Confirm licensing terms and ongoing support.
- Look for examples or demos to determine ease of integration.
What are the best solutions to solve my Android PDF problem?
Plenty of PDF toolkits exist, each with its own strengths. The “best” solution largely depends on your use case. If you need basic viewing only, a lightweight SDK might do. If you want advanced editing, annotation, and encryption, you’ll need something with a broader feature set.
- Nutrient — Our comprehensive SDK, featuring advanced annotation, encryption, and cross-platform support.
- Free open source libraries — Good for simple features, but watch out for support gaps.
- Niche specialty SDKs — Excel at specific tasks like OCR, but may lack other core functions.
What are the benefits of using an Android PDF SDK with Nutrient?
Nutrient sets the standard for performance, reliability, and user-friendly integration. We’ve poured years of research and developer feedback into creating an SDK that’s easy to install, yet robust enough for major enterprises. You’ll get sleek rendering, advanced editing tools, and top-notch security in a single, streamlined package.
- Advanced annotation — Add notes, highlights, comments, or shapes to PDFs.
- High-fidelity rendering — Preserve fonts, images, and formatting perfectly.
- Effortless integration — Get started with a few lines of code — no rocket science required.
- Ongoing updates — Stay current with new Android features and industry regulations.
How do I integrate an Android PDF SDK into my existing mobile app?
Integration often involves adding the SDK as a module or library to your Android project and then calling a few setup methods. For Nutrient specifically, you can load PDFs from local storage, remote URLs, or even in-memory data. The idea is to keep your workflow smooth and your code clean.
- Add the SDK dependency in your Gradle settings.
- Initialize the SDK (e.g. with the
PdfActivity.showDocument(...)method). - Optionally set up password protection or advanced annotation features.
- Test on various devices to ensure consistent performance.
Using an Android PDF SDK can transform your application from a simple viewer to a powerful document management tool. By focusing on user-centric design, thorough security, and cross-platform compatibility, you’ll end up with an app that truly shines.
Knowledge center
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nutrient PDF annotation SDK?
The Nutrient PDF annotation SDK is a comprehensive toolkit that enables developers to integrate advanced annotation features into their applications. It supports more than 15 annotation types, including text highlighting, note additions, freehand drawing, and custom stamps, all of which are compliant with PDF specifications.
How can users customize annotations?
Users can personalize annotations by adjusting colors, border lines, and note icons, as well as creating custom stamps. This flexibility ensures annotations meet specific user preferences and application requirements.
Does the SDK support real-time collaboration?
Yes. The SDK is designed to facilitate real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to annotate and comment on documents simultaneously. This feature enhances teamwork and streamlines document review processes.
Can annotations be flattened into the document?
Absolutely. The SDK provides functionality to flatten annotations, merging them into the base document to prevent additional editing. This is particularly useful for finalizing documents and ensuring annotation integrity.
How does the SDK handle annotation security?
The SDK allows developers to set specific controls and limitations on annotations, aligning with document security permissions. This ensures annotations comply with organizational policies and maintain document integrity.
Is the SDK compatible with various platforms?
Yes. The Nutrient PDF annotation SDK is designed for cross-platform compatibility, enabling integration into web, mobile, and desktop applications. This ensures a consistent annotation experience across different user devices.
What file formats does the SDK support for annotation?
The SDK supports annotations in a wide range of file formats, including PDFs and images. This versatility allows users to annotate various document types within a single application.
Can the SDK integrate with existing document workflows?
Yes. The SDK is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing document workflows, enhancing collaboration and productivity without disrupting current processes.