Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Converting text in images into machine-readable digital text

Overview

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a technology that converts text contained in images into machine-readable digital text. Using computer vision and machine learning techniques, OCR systems analyze images to identify and extract text characters, making them searchable and editable. This technology bridges the gap between physical or image-based documents and digital text processing systems.

Core Components

OCR systems use:

  • Image preprocessing
  • Character detection
  • Text recognition
  • Layout analysis
  • Output formatting
  • Quality validation

Processing Steps

Effective OCR requires:

  • Image quality optimization
  • Character segmentation
  • Pattern recognition
  • Text extraction
  • Error correction
  • Format preservation

Common Applications

OCR enables:

  • Document digitization
  • Form processing
  • Text extraction
  • Archive conversion
  • Data entry automation
  • Accessibility tools