> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://pdfbase.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Retrieve a PDF

> Get metadata and a fresh download URL for a previously generated PDF.

## Phase

**Phase 1 (Launch)**

## Path parameters

<ParamField path="id" type="string" required>
  The PDF ID, e.g., `pdf_x7Kf9m`.
</ParamField>

## Response

```json theme={null}
{
  "id": "pdf_x7Kf9m",
  "object": "pdf",
  "status": "completed",
  "url": "https://files.pdfbase.dev/pdf_x7Kf9m.pdf?token=sig_fresh",
  "pages": 3,
  "bytes": 142000,
  "format": "a4",
  "landscape": false,
  "compress": "none",
  "metadata": {
    "order_id": "42",
    "customer": "acme-corp"
  },
  "created_at": "2026-05-19T10:30:00Z",
  "expires_at": "2026-05-20T10:30:00Z",
  "render_time_ms": 1240
}
```

Each call generates a fresh signed URL, even if the previous one hasn't expired yet.

### After expiration

If the PDF's retention period has passed and the file has been deleted:

```json theme={null}
{
  "id": "pdf_x7Kf9m",
  "object": "pdf",
  "status": "expired",
  "url": null,
  "pages": 3,
  "bytes": 142000,
  "format": "a4",
  "metadata": {
    "order_id": "42"
  },
  "created_at": "2026-05-19T10:30:00Z",
  "expires_at": "2026-05-20T10:30:00Z",
  "expired_at": "2026-05-20T10:30:00Z"
}
```

Metadata is retained permanently. Only the file itself is deleted.

## Example

```bash theme={null}
curl https://api.pdfbase.dev/v1/pdfs/pdf_x7Kf9m \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer pk_live_xxx"
```