Extract Text from HTML vs Picture: A Closer Look

Each year, 93% of Americans experience some type of computer problem.

If you’re one of those people, maybe you’re having problems trying to extract text from HTML or extract text from an image.

Either way, there are easy solutions to both of those problems. Keep reading to learn about how to extract text from anything on the Internet. 

Get a Tool

The first thing you’ll need is software that can extract text. There are two different options when it comes to this. 

You can find an online text extractor that’s free. That means you don’t have to install any plug-ins or apps on your computer. You can use it on your own desktop which is convenient and easy. 

You can also extract text from any type of image. For example, you can extract it from TIFF, JPG, PNG, GIF, or more. The interfaces of these online applications are very easy to use, and you can normally get images in just a few seconds.

You could also download an app onto your computer that would make it easy to extract text. This type of software can recognize different languages and extract text that is pulled from a digital camera. 

This can also convert different file types, like JPG, BMP, TIFF, PNG, and GIF. Once it’s converted the image, it’ll export it into a Text, Excel, or Word file in just a matter of seconds.

However, keep in mind that while this software is powerful, it’s normally not free either. It depends whether or not you’ll be using it enough to invest in. 

How to Extract Text

First, let’s look at how to extract text from HTML. Even this article that you’re reading right now is made up of HTML. So you can extract HTML from almost everything on the Internet.

First, you’ll have to figure out what you want to extract. You can isolate certain things on a website page to extract. Once you’ve figured out what you want to extract, you’ll use the software to extract the text of whatever element you selected.

After a few seconds of processing, you’ll be able to export that data into a file that you can save on your computer.

Extract Inner/Outer HTML

You’ll also be able to extract inner and outer HTML as well. While everything is made up of HTML, it’s a little bit harder to extract HTML from data like an icon. 

If you want to extract non-text contents, then you’ll have to extract the inner and outer HTML. You’ll have to do the same process for anything like a graph, chart, or hidden text. 

To do this, find the target data that you want to extract. To do this, click on the element you want to extract, and it should be highlighted with a box. 

Now, you can use your software to hit extract. The software will find the HTML hidden behind the icon and export it into a file that you can edit or save on your computer.

How to Extract Text From Image

You’re also able to extract text directly from an image. First, you’ll need to open the capture window in the software tool that you’re using. 

Make sure you have the option set to select an image and then grab the text. 

To start your capture, you’ll have to take a screenshot of your screen. You can use the crosshairs to focus on a region of the screen where you want to extract text from the image. 

The software should then analyze the text from the selection and will display the text that you saw. In some cases, it’ll even format it just like it was in the picture.

The software should also try and figure out what font the image was in. If the exact font isn’t there, your computer will try and find similar font. 

Next, the software will then export the text where you can copy and paste it into a presentation, document, or wherever else you need the information.

For more information on how to do this, make sure you check out this link: setapp.com.

How to Use an OCR

You can also try using optical character recognition (OCR) to extract text from images. This is software that automates the data extraction process from almost any image.

All you’ll need to do is scan an image or a document, and the software will convert the text automatically. 

To use this type of program, you’ll first need to find an image that you want to extract text from. You can either save the file on your computer or take a screenshot of it. 

Once you’re done with that, you’ll need to upload the image into the software. Once the software is done reading it, it will create a document with the extracted text where you can then copy and paste it anywhere you like. 

You can do this on almost any image from any webpage, but you can also use it to extract text from PDFs that are locked.

Learn More About How to Extract Text from HTML

These are only a few things to know about how to extract text from HTML and images, but there are many more solutions that you can try.

We know that trying to keep up with the latest technology can be stressful, but we’re here to help you out. 

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