Optical Character Recognition (OCR), also referred to as Optical Character Reading (OCR), is a technology used to convert printed or handwritten text into machine-encoded text. It involves the mechanical or electronic translation of characters which are typically composed of alphabets, numbers, and punctuation marks present in a scanned document or image.
OCR technology utilizes various image processing techniques to identify and extract characters from a given input, making it easier to analyze, store, and manipulate textual content. It serves as a vital tool in automating the conversion of physical documents into editable or searchable digital formats.
By employing sophisticated algorithms and pattern recognition techniques, OCR systems can recognize characters from a wide range of fonts, sizes, and styles, while also accounting for variations in quality and clarity of the source material. The extracted text can then be used for a multitude of purposes including text-to-speech synthesis, data entry, document indexing, information retrieval, and text analysis.
OCR technology has numerous applications in multiple industries such as banking, education, publishing, healthcare, government, and more. It helps streamline workflows, enhance data accuracy, and reduce manual effort in document processing tasks.
Overall, optical character reading (OCR) is an essential technological process that allows machines to interpret and convert printed or handwritten text into electronic formats, facilitating efficient data handling and analysis.
