> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pdf4llm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Supported Formats

> Input formats PyMuPDF4LLM can read, and output formats it can produce.

<div id="apiIndicatorBadge">
  <div class="inner pymupdf" />
</div>

## Input Formats

PyMuPDF4LLM can open and extract content from the following document types:

| Format           | Extensions                                                         | Notes                                         |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| PDF              | `.pdf`                                                             | All versions, including encrypted and scanned |
| XPS              | `.xps`                                                             | Microsoft XML Paper Specification             |
| eBooks           | `.epub`, `.mobi`, `.fb2`                                           | Reflowable content is linearised per chapter  |
| Comic Books      | `.cbz`                                                             | Image-based pages; OCR recommended            |
| Office Documents | `.doc`, `.docx`, `.ppt`, `.pptx`, `.xls`, `.xlsx`, `.hwp`, `.hwpx` | **PyMuPDF Pro only** — see below              |

<Note>
  Standard PyMuPDF4LLM supports PDF, XPS, eBooks, and CBZ out of the box. Office format support requires a [PyMuPDF Pro](https://pymupdf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pymupdf-pro) licence.
</Note>

### Office Documents (Pro Only)

Processing Office files requires PyMuPDF Pro, which converts documents to PDF internally before extraction. This means all standard extraction options — layout analysis, OCR, page chunks — work identically on Office files.

```python theme={null}
import pymupdf4llm

# Requires PyMuPDF Pro licence
md_text = pymupdf4llm.to_markdown("report.doc")
```

<Card title="PyMuPDF Pro" icon="lock" href="/python/integrations/PyMuPDF-Pro">
  Learn how to install and activate PyMuPDF Pro for Office document support.
</Card>

***

## Output Formats

PyMuPDF4LLM can produce output in four formats depending on your use case:

| Format     | Function                         | Best For                                                |
| ---------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Markdown   | `to_markdown()`                  | LLM ingestion, RAG pipelines, readable docs             |
| JSON       | `to_json()`                      | Custom pipelines needing bounding boxes and layout data |
| Plain Text | `to_text()`                      | Simple text extraction, search indexing                 |
| Images     | `to_markdown(write_images=True)` | Preserving figures, charts, and diagrams                |

### Markdown

The default and most commonly used output format. Text is extracted in reading order with headings, lists, tables, and inline formatting preserved where detectable.

```python theme={null}
md_text = pymupdf4llm.to_markdown("document.pdf")
```

### JSON

Returns structured data including bounding boxes, font information, and layout metadata for every block on the page. Useful for building custom post-processing pipelines.

```python theme={null}
json_output = pymupdf4llm.to_json("document.pdf")
```

### Plain Text

Strips all formatting and returns raw text content. Ideal when downstream tools do not need Markdown syntax.

```python theme={null}
text = pymupdf4llm.to_text("document.pdf")
```

### Images

When `write_images=True` is passed to `to_markdown()`, embedded images and graphics are extracted and saved to disk. Image paths are referenced inline in the Markdown output.

```python theme={null}
md_text = pymupdf4llm.to_markdown("document.pdf", write_images=True, image_path="images/")
```

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Extract Markdown" icon="markdown" href="/python/guides/extract-Markdown">
    Full walkthrough of `to_markdown()` with common options.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Images & Graphics" icon="image" href="/python/guides/images-and-graphics">
    Controlling image extraction, DPI, and output path.
  </Card>

  <Card title="PyMuPDF Pro" icon="lock" href="/python/integrations/PyMuPDF-Pro">
    Unlock Office document support with PyMuPDF Pro.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>