OctoPDF: Free, Accurate, and Reliable PDF/A Validation for Everyone

When it comes to archiving digital documents, few formats have stood the test of time like PDF/A. Designed as an ISO-standardized version of the Portable Document Format, PDF/A preserves all necessary information — fonts, images, color profiles, and metadata — directly within the file. This makes it essential for any organization that needs documents to remain viewable and verifiable decades into the future.

OctoPDF (https://octopdf.com) provides a simple, accurate, and free way to validate your PDF/A files. Built by BFO (Big Faceless Organization), pioneers in Java-based PDF software since 1999, OctoPDF demonstrates the precision and reliability of BFO’s PDF Library API through a clean, browser-based interface.

Why PDF/A Validation Matters

Not all PDFs are created equal. A document may display correctly but still fail compliance checks required for legal, archival, or accessibility standards. A valid PDF/A file must meet strict structural and metadata criteria to remain reproducible in the future, independent of software or system changes.

Accurate validation is critical, especially for organizations handling contracts, policies, e-records, or historical archives. Incorrectly formatted files can lead to failed audits, rejected submissions, or lost information. OctoPDF provides a reliable check before documents are submitted or archived.

Easy, Free, and Insightful

Using OctoPDF is straightforward:

• Drop a PDF onto the page (or upload a file)
• We analyze and verify it for free
• Review the results

Comprehensive Validation in a Single Pass

OctoPDF performs deep analysis of a PDF and validates multiple standards at once:

• PDF/A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 for compliance
• PDF/UA (UA-1 and UA-2) for accessibility
• PDF/X for print-production workflows
• Digital signatures and timestamps
• Embedded Factur-X invoices (hybrid electronic invoice format combining PDF and XML)

This multi-standard validation in one pass saves time, avoids repeated uploads, and gives a detailed picture of a file’s health and compliance.

Rich Technical Insight: Structure Tree, Metadata, Attachments

Beyond validation, OctoPDF allows users to explore the internal components of a PDF, including:

• The structure tree, which exposes tagging used for accessibility tools
• Embedded attachments
• Metadata, XMP packets, and document properties

Who Uses PDF/A and Why

PDF/A is critical wherever document integrity, readability, and long-term preservation matter:

• Government departments use it for records management, regulatory filings, and digital archives
• Legal firms rely on it for court documents, contracts, and evidence
• Banks and financial institutions apply it to statements, compliance records, and transaction archives
• Healthcare organizations preserve patient records and research materials
• Libraries, museums, and archives digitize historical materials for preservation and access

In each case, validation confirms that PDF/A standards are met, and OctoPDF provides that feedback instantly.

Built on Proven Technology

OctoPDF is more than a free PDF validation tool: it highlights the capabilities of BFO’s PDF Library API, a robust suite used by enterprises and governments worldwide for creating, signing, verifying, and converting PDFs. For larger-scale needs—such as validating thousands of files, converting HTML to PDF, generating PDF/A documents programmatically, or adding digital signatures—BFO’s commercial APIs manage these tasks efficiently.

As BFO explains: “OctoPDF is an application we built with our PDF Library. If you want to do verification at scale, or convert PDF to PDF/A or bitmap, sign PDFs, or generate them dynamically, we have rock-solid tools for that.”

A Reliable Partner for the Long Term

For over two decades, BFO has been trusted by developers, enterprises, and governments to power critical PDF workflows. OctoPDF brings that expertise to everyone: a free, accurate, and transparent validation service that reflects the same engineering quality behind BFO’s commercial products.