Is my file really never uploaded?
Really. The PDF engine (Mozilla's pdf.js) and the export engine run inside your browser tab.
Open your browser's network inspector while you work: after the page loads, no request carries
your document anywhere. After your first visit it works with no internet connection at all.
How is this different from drawing a black rectangle in a PDF editor?
A drawn rectangle is an annotation that sits on top of intact text. Anyone can select
under it, copy it, or delete the rectangle. Redactron exports a rebuilt document in which
the redacted content no longer exists — the page is flattened and the text layer is gone.
Does it work on scanned documents?
Burning works on any PDF, scanned or digital — a manual box destroys whatever is under it.
Automatic detection needs a text layer, so on pure scans you mark regions by hand. On-device
OCR is on the roadmap.
What happens to the document's metadata?
The export is built from a blank document, so the original author, title and history
are not carried over; the report says so.
Is the exported text still searchable?
Redacted regions: gone forever. The rest of the page is flattened to a high-resolution
image in the current version, so text selection is disabled in the export — that is the
trade that makes sure no hidden text survives. A searchable-text export for unredacted
regions is on the roadmap.
Is this legal advice? Does it guarantee compliance?
No. Redactron is a tool, not counsel. It removes what you mark — reviewing what must be
redacted for HIPAA, GDPR, court rules, or FOIA remains your call.