OCR can be used for a variety of applications. OCR typically involves three steps: opening and/or scanning a document in the OCR software, recognizing the document in the OCR software, and then saving the OCR-produced document in a format of your choosing. Using OCR software allows a computer to read static images of text and convert them into editable, searchable data. Optical character recognition (OCR) is the electronic identification and digital encoding of typed or printed text by means of an optical scanner and specialized software. This guide aims to help you explore the special features of different OCR software. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & AccessibilityĪre you curious about optical character recognition (OCR) software? Interested in learning how OCR software may be able to enhance your research project? Or, maybe you are interested in the ways in which OCR can aid in textual comparisons.