What is a linearized PDF file? A complete guide for fast web viewing
Discover what a linearized PDF file is, how it works, and how you can easily create one using GhostScript, Nutrient Document Engine, and Nutrient DWS API.
DOCUMENT ENGINE
Integrate server-side document processing, viewing, streaming, and management into your client-side web, mobile, and hybrid applications. Alternatively, choose a fully headless operation.
Opt for headless document processing if you don’t need a UI, or deploy with our Web Viewer SDK for frontend integration.
Integrate client-side viewing with backend-powered rendering for managing large document batches.
Enable real-time document collaboration, annotations, form filling, and signing by combining Document Engine with our web, mobile, and hybrid viewer SDKs.
DEPLOYMENT
SELF-HOSTED
Install Document Engine on the servers you already control. You keep full authority over data location, access, and updates — ideal for strict security or compliance rules.
Designed for organizations with in-house DevOps, providing full control over infrastructure to meet strict regulatory and internal policies.
Integrates easily with existing backend systems or as a backend for our viewer SDKs, simplifying document processing and rendering.
Includes a recommended setup example to streamline deployment within your infrastructure.
Cloud APIs
Sign up, copy an access key, and process your first PDF within minutes. We handle the uptime, scaling, and security, so your team can stay focused on building features.
Managed Cloud
We run a dedicated Document Engine just for you, handle every update, and monitor it around the clock. You get fast testing, smooth launches, and a single bill.
OPERATION MODES
Pair Document Engine with Nutrient client-side viewer SDKs, or use it as a headless document processor for entirely backend operations.
| Headless Document Engine | Viewer SDKs + Document Engine | |
|---|---|---|
| Client-side user interface | | |
| Significantly reduced client-side processing load | N/A | |
| High-performance PDF processing for documents with large file
sizes | | |
| Fastest document rendering (document streaming support for
managed DE only) | N/A | |
| Backend processing for PDFs (including OCR, redaction, and data
extraction) | | |
| Backend PDF generation, editing, conversion, and processing | | |
| Real-time collaboration on documents | | |
Choose Deployment
Choose self-hosted when you want total control; Cloud APIs for instant, auto-scaling processing from day one through production; and Managed Cloud when you need strict data isolation without running any servers yourself.
| Self-hosted | Cloud APIs | Managed Cloud | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily upkeep | You patch and monitor | None — Nutrient runs it | None — private stack run by Nutrient |
| Data location | Anywhere you choose | Shared US and EU regions | Single tenant in your region |
| How it grows | Up to your server budget | Auto-scales within service limits | Auto-scales, limits set in contract |
| Feature scope | Full engine — headless or paired with client-side viewer SDKs | DWS Processor (headless) and DWS Viewer (frontend) APIs | Full engine, plus dedicated streaming |
| Typical fit | Large files, on-premises rules, long-term cost control | Quick trials, bursty loads, frontend view with built-in storage | Large files, strict rules, high volume with small DevOps team |
| Costs | Annual license, plus your infrastructure cost | Usage-based credits | Enterprise annual subscription |
Generate, edit, convert, compare, redact, and OCR PDFs at scale with Nutrient Document Engine. Hook it to our web, mobile, and hybrid viewer SDKs to give users a seamless end-to-end workflow — client to cloud, start to finish.
Render large PDFs instantly, layer on markups and threaded comments, and watch feedback appear live.
Add, reorder, or rewrite pages and build dynamic forms with just a few API calls — zero desktop tools.
Apply tamper‑proof eSignatures, run pixel‑perfect diffs, and scrub sensitive data before release.
Ask a document anything, translate or classify content, and auto‑convert at scale with one endpoint.
Output long‑term PDF/A, enforce encryption, and breeze through audits with built‑in accessibility standards.
Nutrient SDKs and Cloud APIs add full document lifecycle support to any platform, tech stack, or infrastructure in minutes. The same technology meets Fortune 500 requirements while helping startups ship fast.
Clean documentation, drop-in code, and MCP hooks for both hands-on developers and AI agents.
Web, mobile, desktop, server, or Nutrient Cloud — with no lock-in.
SOC 2 Type II and WCAG 2.2-compliant workflows with PDF/UA-accessible documents.
Built-in document AI with support for leading LLMs and their private implementations.
Discover what a linearized PDF file is, how it works, and how you can easily create one using GhostScript, Nutrient Document Engine, and Nutrient DWS API.
Discover Document Engine, the ultimate solution for seamless document processing and collaboration with enhanced SDK integration.
How we enhanced our PDF Generation component by adding the option of headers and footers.
PROVEN AT SCALE
The digital arm of Germany’s national railway digitizes millions of track maintenance blueprints with the Nutrient PDF SDK, keeping 40,000 trains rolling each day.
Governance portal trusted by 2,000+ boards in 30 countries embeds Nutrient Web SDK to enable in‑portal annotations and cross‑device continuity, achieving 80 percent user engagement.
Rolled out nationwide PAdES-compliant signatures with the Nutrient PDF SDK, letting every Austrian citizen sign official documents securely in seconds.
FREE TRIAL
Start building with Document Engine in minutes — no payment information required.
Document Engine is a server-side toolkit that powers high-performance document processing, rendering, and automation behind the scenes of web, mobile, and desktop apps. Nutrient Document Engine enables developers to offload complex tasks like document viewing, generation, conversion, OCR, redaction, and real-time collaboration — at scale.
The right option depends on your architecture, workload volume, and compliance needs. Key factors to evaluate include:
If you need to power document-heavy workflows behind the scenes, Nutrient Document Engine has hybrid or headless architecture with full document processing, rendering, and streaming capabilities.
Nutrient (formerly PSPDFKit) is designed for speed, scalability, and developer control. It can be used to create documents, automate forms, or build a custom document platform.
Nutrient Document Engine is designed for modern teams building powerful, scalable document experiences — without overengineering.
What is Nutrient Document Engine?
Document Engine is server-based software that enables applications to perform advanced document processing tasks such as generation, editing, conversion, and management. It can operate independently as a headless service or integrate with Nutrient’s client-side SDKs for a comprehensive document solution.
How does Document Engine integrate with Nutrient’s client-side SDKs?
When paired with Nutrient Web SDK, Document Engine enhances frontend applications by offloading complex document processing tasks to the server. This integration enables features like real-time collaboration and document streaming, and it reduces client-side processing load, leading to improved performance and scalability.
What deployment options are available for Document Engine?
Document Engine offers flexible deployment options. It can be self-hosted within your infrastructure, providing full control and compliance with internal policies, or hosted by Nutrient, offering a managed solution with reduced operational overhead.
What platforms and frameworks are compatible with Document Engine?
Document Engine supports integration with various platforms and frameworks, including web applications, iOS, Android, React Native, Electron, and MAUI. This cross-platform compatibility ensures a consistent document processing experience across different devices and environments.
What are the key benefits of using Document Engine in document workflows?
Document Engine offers several benefits, including efficient backend rendering for large document batches, real-time collaboration capabilities, and the ability to deploy with or without a user interface. These features collectively enhance document workflows by improving performance, scalability, and user engagement.