azure-ai-document-intelligence-dotnet

---
name: azure-ai-document-intelligence-dotnet
description: |
  Azure AI Document Intelligence SDK for .NET. Extract text, tables, and structured data from documents using prebuilt and custom models. Use for invoice processing, receipt extraction, ID document analysis, and custom document models. Triggers: "Document Intelligence", "DocumentIntelligenceClient", "form recognizer", "invoice extraction", "receipt OCR", "document analysis .NET".
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: Microsoft
  version: "1.0.0"
  package: Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence
---

# Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence (.NET)

Extract text, tables, and structured data from documents using prebuilt and custom models.

## Installation

```bash
dotnet add package Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence
dotnet add package Azure.Identity
```

**Current Version**: v1.0.0 (GA)

## Environment Variables

```bash
DOCUMENT_INTELLIGENCE_ENDPOINT=https://<resource-name>.cognitiveservices.azure.com/  # Required: Document Intelligence endpoint
DOCUMENT_INTELLIGENCE_API_KEY=<your-api-key>  # Only required for AzureKeyCredential auth
BLOB_CONTAINER_SAS_URL=https://<storage>.blob.core.windows.net/<container>?<sas-token>  # Optional: blob container SAS URL for training data
AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod  # Required only if DefaultAzureCredential is used in production
```

## Authentication

### Microsoft Entra Token Credential

```csharp
using Azure.Identity;
using Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence;

string endpoint = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("DOCUMENT_INTELLIGENCE_ENDPOINT");
// Local dev: DefaultAzureCredential. Production: set AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod or AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=<specific_credential>
var credential = new DefaultAzureCredential(
    DefaultAzureCredential.DefaultEnvironmentVariableName
);
// Or use a specific credential directly in production:
// See https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/overview/azure/identity-readme?view=azure-dotnet#credential-classes
// var credential = new ManagedIdentityCredential();
var client = new DocumentIntelligenceClient(new Uri(endpoint), credential);
```

> **Note**: Entra ID requires a **custom subdomain** (e.g., `https://<resource-name>.cognitiveservices.azure.com/`), not a regional endpoint.

### API Key

```csharp
string endpoint = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("DOCUMENT_INTELLIGENCE_ENDPOINT");
string apiKey = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("DOCUMENT_INTELLIGENCE_API_KEY");
var client = new DocumentIntelligenceClient(new Uri(endpoint), new AzureKeyCredential(apiKey));
```

## Client Types

| Client | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `DocumentIntelligenceClient` | Analyze documents, classify documents |
| `DocumentIntelligenceAdministrationClient` | Build/manage custom models and classifiers |

## Prebuilt Models

| Model ID | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `prebuilt-read` | Extract text, languages, handwriting |
| `prebuilt-layout` | Extract text, tables, selection marks, structure |
| `prebuilt-invoice` | Extract invoice fields (vendor, items, totals) |
| `prebuilt-receipt` | Extract receipt fields (merchant, items, total) |
| `prebuilt-idDocument` | Extract ID document fields (name, DOB, address) |
| `prebuilt-businessCard` | Extract business card fields |
| `prebuilt-tax.us.w2` | Extract W-2 tax form fields |
| `prebuilt-healthInsuranceCard.us` | Extract health insurance card fields |

## Core Workflows

### 1. Analyze Invoice

```csharp
using Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence;

Uri invoiceUri = new Uri("https://example.com/invoice.pdf");

Operation<AnalyzeResult> operation = await client.AnalyzeDocumentAsync(
    WaitUntil.Completed, 
    "prebuilt-invoice", 
    invoiceUri);

AnalyzeResult result = operation.Value;

foreach (AnalyzedDocument document in result.Documents)
{
    if (document.Fields.TryGetValue("VendorName", out DocumentField vendorNameField)
        && vendorNameField.FieldType == DocumentFieldType.String)
    {
        string vendorName = vendorNameField.ValueString;
        Console.WriteLine($"Vendor Name: '{vendorName}', confidence: {vendorNameField.Confidence}");
    }

    if (document.Fields.TryGetValue("InvoiceTotal", out DocumentField invoiceTotalField)
        && invoiceTotalField.FieldType == DocumentFieldType.Currency)
    {
        CurrencyValue invoiceTotal = invoiceTotalField.ValueCurrency;
        Console.WriteLine($"Invoice Total: '{invoiceTotal.CurrencySymbol}{invoiceTotal.Amount}'");
    }
    
    // Extract line items
    if (document.Fields.TryGetValue("Items", out DocumentField itemsField)
        && itemsField.FieldType == DocumentFieldType.List)
    {
        foreach (DocumentField item in itemsField.ValueList)
        {
            var itemFields = item.ValueDictionary;
            if (itemFields.TryGetValue("Description", out DocumentField descField))
                Console.WriteLine($"  Item: {descField.ValueString}");
        }
    }
}
```

### 2. Extract Layout (Text, Tables, Structure)

```csharp
Uri fileUri = new Uri("https://example.com/document.pdf");

Operation<AnalyzeResult> operation = await client.AnalyzeDocumentAsync(
    WaitUntil.Completed, 
    "prebuilt-layout", 
    fileUri);

AnalyzeResult result = operation.Value;

// Extract text by page
foreach (DocumentPage page in result.Pages)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Page {page.PageNumber}: {page.Lines.Count} lines, {page.Words.Count} words");
    
    foreach (DocumentLine line in page.Lines)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"  Line: '{line.Content}'");
    }
}

// Extract tables
foreach (DocumentTable table in result.Tables)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Table: {table.RowCount} rows x {table.ColumnCount} columns");
    foreach (DocumentTableCell cell in table.Cells)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"  Cell ({cell.RowIndex}, {cell.ColumnIndex}): {cell.Content}");
    }
}
```

### 3. Analyze Receipt

```csharp
Operation<AnalyzeResult> operation = await client.AnalyzeDocumentAsync(
    WaitUntil.Completed, 
    "prebuilt-receipt", 
    receiptUri);

AnalyzeResult result = operation.Value;

foreach (AnalyzedDocument document in result.Documents)
{
    if (document.Fields.TryGetValue("MerchantName", out DocumentField merchantField))
        Console.WriteLine($"Merchant: {merchantField.ValueString}");
        
    if (document.Fields.TryGetValue("Total", out DocumentField totalField))
        Console.WriteLine($"Total: {totalField.ValueCurrency.Amount}");
        
    if (document.Fields.TryGetValue("TransactionDate", out DocumentField dateField))
        Console.WriteLine($"Date: {dateField.ValueDate}");
}
```

### 4. Build Custom Model

```csharp
var adminClient = new DocumentIntelligenceAdministrationClient(
    new Uri(endpoint), 
    new AzureKeyCredential(apiKey));

string modelId = "my-custom-model";
Uri blobContainerUri = new Uri("<blob-container-sas-url>");

var blobSource = new BlobContentSource(blobContainerUri);
var options = new BuildDocumentModelOptions(modelId, DocumentBuildMode.Template, blobSource);

Operation<DocumentModelDetails> operation = await adminClient.BuildDocumentModelAsync(
    WaitUntil.Completed, 
    options);

DocumentModelDetails model = operation.Value;

Console.WriteLine($"Model ID: {model.ModelId}");
Console.WriteLine($"Created: {model.CreatedOn}");

foreach (var docType in model.DocumentTypes)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Document type: {docType.Key}");
    foreach (var field in docType.Value.FieldSchema)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"  Field: {field.Key}, Confidence: {docType.Value.FieldConfidence[field.Key]}");
    }
}
```

### 5. Build Document Classifier

```csharp
string classifierId = "my-classifier";
Uri blobContainerUri = new Uri("<blob-container-sas-url>");

var sourceA = new BlobContentSource(blobContainerUri) { Prefix = "TypeA/train" };
var sourceB = new BlobContentSource(blobContainerUri) { Prefix = "TypeB/train" };

var docTypes = new Dictionary<string, ClassifierDocumentTypeDetails>()
{
    { "TypeA", new ClassifierDocumentTypeDetails(sourceA) },
    { "TypeB", new ClassifierDocumentTypeDetails(sourceB) }
};

var options = new BuildClassifierOptions(classifierId, docTypes);

Operation<DocumentClassifierDetails> operation = await adminClient.BuildClassifierAsync(
    WaitUntil.Completed, 
    options);

DocumentClassifierDetails classifier = operation.Value;
Console.WriteLine($"Classifier ID: {classifier.ClassifierId}");
```

### 6. Classify Document

```csharp
string classifierId = "my-classifier";
Uri documentUri = new Uri("https://example.com/document.pdf");

var options = new ClassifyDocumentOptions(classifierId, documentUri);

Operation<AnalyzeResult> operation = await client.ClassifyDocumentAsync(
    WaitUntil.Completed, 
    options);

AnalyzeResult result = operation.Value;

foreach (AnalyzedDocument document in result.Documents)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Document type: {document.DocumentType}, confidence: {document.Confidence}");
}
```

### 7. Manage Models

```csharp
// Get resource details
DocumentIntelligenceResourceDetails resourceDetails = await adminClient.GetResourceDetailsAsync();
Console.WriteLine($"Custom models: {resourceDetails.CustomDocumentModels.Count}/{resourceDetails.CustomDocumentModels.Limit}");

// Get specific model
DocumentModelDetails model = await adminClient.GetModelAsync("my-model-id");
Console.WriteLine($"Model: {model.ModelId}, Created: {model.CreatedOn}");

// List models
await foreach (DocumentModelDetails modelItem in adminClient.GetModelsAsync())
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Model: {modelItem.ModelId}");
}

// Delete model
await adminClient.DeleteModelAsync("my-model-id");
```

## Key Types Reference

| Type | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `DocumentIntelligenceClient` | Main client for analysis |
| `DocumentIntelligenceAdministrationClient` | Model management |
| `AnalyzeResult` | Result of document analysis |
| `AnalyzedDocument` | Single document within result |
| `DocumentField` | Extracted field with value and confidence |
| `DocumentFieldType` | String, Date, Number, Currency, etc. |
| `DocumentPage` | Page info (lines, words, selection marks) |
| `DocumentTable` | Extracted table with cells |
| `DocumentModelDetails` | Custom model metadata |
| `BlobContentSource` | Training data source |

## Build Modes

| Mode | Use Case |
|------|----------|
| `DocumentBuildMode.Template` | Fixed layout documents (forms) |
| `DocumentBuildMode.Neural` | Variable layout documents |

## Best Practices

1. **Use DefaultAzureCredential** for production
2. **Reuse client instances** — clients are thread-safe
3. **Handle long-running operations** — Use `WaitUntil.Completed` for simplicity
4. **Check field confidence** — Always verify `Confidence` property
5. **Use appropriate model** — Prebuilt for common docs, custom for specialized
6. **Use custom subdomain** — Required for Entra ID authentication

## Error Handling

```csharp
using Azure;

try
{
    var operation = await client.AnalyzeDocumentAsync(
        WaitUntil.Completed, 
        "prebuilt-invoice", 
        documentUri);
}
catch (RequestFailedException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Status} - {ex.Message}");
}
```

## Related SDKs

| SDK | Purpose | Install |
|-----|---------|---------|
| `Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence` | Document analysis (this SDK) | `dotnet add package Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence` |
| `Azure.AI.FormRecognizer` | Legacy SDK (deprecated) | Use DocumentIntelligence instead |

## Reference Links

| Resource | URL |
|----------|-----|
| NuGet Package | https://www.nuget.org/packages/Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence |
| API Reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/azure.ai.documentintelligence |
| GitHub Samples | https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-net/tree/main/sdk/documentintelligence/Azure.AI.DocumentIntelligence/samples |
| Document Intelligence Studio | https://documentintelligence.ai.azure.com/ |
| Prebuilt Models | https://aka.ms/azsdk/formrecognizer/models |