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Add ID Document Scanning to Your App with DOCSCAN - No SDK Required

#webdev #api #python #ai

Looking to implement seamless ID document scanning on your website or app? Meet DOCSCAN, PixLab's developer-first, SDK-free REST API that extracts structured data from government-issued IDs - all in a single API call.

DOCSCAN OUTPUT

What is DOCSCAN?

DOCSCAN is a high-performance REST API endpoint from the PixLab Vision Platform designed for document scanning, facial extraction, and structured ID data retrieval.

It supports over 11,000 official ID types - passports, national IDs, driver's licenses, visas, and more - from 200+ countries and territories.

Whether you’re building ID scanning flows, onboarding forms, or access control systems, DOCSCAN provides a fast and reliable foundation.

Why Developers Love DOCSCAN

  • ✅ SDK-Free: Works with any language or backend that can make HTTPS requests - no libraries, no vendor lock-in.
  • 🌍 Global Coverage: Supports official ID formats from nearly every country on earth.
  • 💡 Automatic Field Extraction: Get structured data like full name, birthdate, nationality, and document number from a single image.
  • 🧠 Built-In Face Detection: Crop the user's face from their ID automatically.
  • ⚡ Fast JSON Responses: Typical processing time is under 5 seconds.

Step 1: Get an API Key

Start by creating a free account at PixLab Console to obtain your API key.

Step 2: Make Your First API Call (GET)

Here's how to make a simple DOCSCAN request using Python:

import requests

req = requests.get(
    'https://api.pixlab.io/docscan',
    params={
        'img': 'https://i.stack.imgur.com/oJY2K.png',  # Publicly accessible image URL
        'type': 'passport',                            # Document type
        'key': 'YOUR_PIXLAB_API_KEY'                   # Replace with your API key
    }
)

reply = req.json()
if reply['status'] != 200:
    print(reply['error'])
else:
    print("Face Crop URL:", reply['face_url'])
    print("MRZ Raw Text:", reply['mrz_raw_text'])
    print("Full Name:", reply['fields']['fullName'])
    print("Date of Birth:", reply['fields']['dateOfBirth'])
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📌 Want to upload local files directly? Use a POST request instead.

Step 3: Upload a Local ID (POST Example) 

import requests

req = requests.post(
    'https://api.pixlab.io/docscan',
    files={'file': open('./local_passport.png', 'rb')},
    data={
        'type': 'passport',
        'key': 'YOUR_PIXLAB_API_KEY'
    }
)

reply = req.json()
if reply['status'] != 200:
    print(reply['error'])
else:
    print("Face Crop URL:", reply['face_url'])
    print("Document Number:", reply['fields']['documentNumber'])
    print("Expiry Date:", reply['fields']['dateOfExpiry'])
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Response Breakdown

DOCSCAN responds with a structured JSON object. Key fields include:

  • status: HTTP code (e.g. 200)
  • fields: Extracted data like full name, birthdate, sex, nationality
  • face_url: Cropped face from the ID
  • mrz_raw_text: Machine-readable zone text block

See full reference here: DOCSCAN API Docs

Supported Documents

DOCSCAN supports:

  • Passports (MRZ & non-MRZ)
  • National IDs
  • Driver's Licenses
  • Residence permits
  • Birth & death certificates

All supported across 200+ countries. View the full list here.

Bonus: No Storage by Default

All processing happens in RAM, and documents are never stored unless you choose to connect your own AWS S3 bucket.

Try It Out

Start scanning today:

Whether you're building a fintech onboarding flow or automating ID checks at scale, DOCSCAN is the drop-in solution for developers who want power, speed, and flexibility - without dealing with heavy SDKs or complex setup.

Happy scanning! 🔍

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