What if my PDF does not have bookmarks?

This tool extracts the bookmark outline embedded in the PDF metadata. If your PDF has no bookmarks, the extraction will return an empty result. You can use our PDF Outline Editor to add bookmarks to a PDF that doesn't have them, then extract the TOC afterward.

What output formats are available for the TOC?

You can export the table of contents as plain text (with indentation showing hierarchy), Markdown (with heading levels and links), or JSON (with structured data including title, page number, level, and children). Choose the format that best fits your destination platform.

Does this extract text from the actual pages or from metadata?

This tool extracts the bookmark outline stored in the PDF metadata, not text from the pages themselves. Bookmarks are the clickable navigation entries that appear in the sidebar of PDF viewers. If you need to extract all text content from pages, use the PDF to Text tool instead.

Can I use the extracted TOC to create a document summary?

Yes. The extracted table of contents provides a structured overview of the document's sections and chapters with page references. Many users export it as Markdown for inclusion in project documentation, or as JSON for processing in document management systems.

Table of Contents - Free Online PDF Tool

Powerful Table of Contents Features

Full Hierarchy

Extracts the complete bookmark tree with all nesting levels, from chapters down to subsections.

Multiple Formats

Export as plain text, Markdown, or JSON depending on your destination platform.

Private Extraction

Document structure is analyzed locally in your browser. No files are uploaded.

How To Table of Contents Online for Free

Upload Your PDF

Drop your PDF into the tool. The bookmark structure is read locally on your device.

View TOC Structure

See the complete table of contents with hierarchy levels, titles, and page numbers.

Export or Copy

Download the TOC as text, Markdown, or JSON, or copy it directly to your clipboard.

Extract the table of contents from PDF bookmarks directly in your browser. View and export the navigation structure embedded in PDF documents, including chapter titles, section headings, page numbers, and hierarchy levels. This is useful for understanding the structure of large documents before reading, creating document summaries, building indexes, and migrating TOC data to other formats. Processing runs locally via WebAssembly, keeping your documents private.

Everything You Need in a Table of Contents

Complete Bookmark Tree

Every bookmark entry with its title, target page, and position in the hierarchy.

Page References

Each TOC entry includes the destination page number for quick reference.

Text, Markdown, JSON

Choose the export format that works for your documentation system or application.

Instant Extraction

Bookmarks are read from PDF metadata in milliseconds, regardless of document size.

Clipboard Copy

Copy the formatted TOC directly to your clipboard for immediate pasting into any editor.

Local Processing

WebAssembly reads the bookmark data on your device. Documents stay private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Document Work Made Easy

Process your PDFs with our collection of free, privacy-first tools. No uploads to servers, no registration required. Everything runs directly in your browser.