Insights

On PDF privacy, browser-based document processing, and why where your files go matters.

Engineering

We Built PDF Tools That Process Locally. Here's What We Learned.

An engineering deep dive into building 28 browser-based PDF tools with WebAssembly. Memory management, offline UX, AI without file upload, and production lessons.

Jan 17, 2026 · 8 min read
Privacy

What Happens to Your Files When You Use an Online PDF Tool

Every time you drag a PDF into an online tool, you're making a trust decision. Most people don't think about it — they just want to merge two documents or compr...

· 6 min read
Technology

Zero-Upload Architecture: How Browser-Based PDF Processing Works

ModernPDF doesn't upload your files. That's not a marketing line — it's an architectural decision that shapes every part of how the product works. Here's what's...

· 5 min read
Industry

PDF Privacy for Legal Professionals: What Your Tools Aren't Telling You

Attorneys handle some of the most sensitive documents in professional life: client communications protected by privilege, discovery materials under protective o...

· 7 min read
Technology

Why WebAssembly Changes Everything for Browser-Based Tools

For most of the web's history, if you wanted to do serious computation — process an image, compress a file, render a PDF — you needed a server. Browsers could d...

· 5 min read
Analysis

The Hidden Cost of Free PDF Tools

Search "merge PDF free" and you'll find dozens of tools that promise to do the job without charging a cent. Many of them work well enough. But "free" is a prici...

· 5 min read