diff --git a/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/mod.rs b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5cef127
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+//! Inspector web debug viewer.
+//!
+//! This module implements Phase 7.9's `pdftract inspect` subcommand:
+//! a local web server that renders PDF extraction results with
+//! interactive debugging overlays.
+
+pub mod render;
diff --git a/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/mod.rs b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..586e785
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+//! Layer renderers for the inspector debug viewer.
+//!
+//! Each renderer generates SVG elements for a specific debugging layer.
+//! All renderers follow a common pattern:
+//!
+//! ```rust
+//! pub fn render_<name>(input: &[InputType]) -> Vec<String>
+//! ```
+//!
+//! The returned Vec<String> contains SVG elements that are placed inside
+//! a `<g class="layer-<name>">` group in the final output.
+
+pub mod spans;
diff --git a/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/spans.rs b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/spans.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df210fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/spans.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,337 @@
+//! Span layer renderer for the inspector.
+//!
+//! This module renders SVG outline rectangles for each text span,
+//! color-coded by extraction confidence. Red (< 0.5), yellow (0.5-0.8),
+//! and green (> 0.8) indicate low, medium, and high confidence respectively.
+//!
+//! Each rect includes data-* attributes for tooltip and click consumption:
+//! - data-text: the extracted text content
+//! - data-confidence: the confidence score (0.0-1.0)
+//! - data-font: the font name
+//! - data-size: the font size in points
+
+use pdftract_core::schema::SpanJson;
+
+/// Render SVG outline rectangles for each span.
+///
+/// # Arguments
+///
+/// * `spans` - Slice of spans to render
+///
+/// # Returns
+///
+/// A vector of SVG `<rect>` element strings. Each rect is positioned at
+/// the span's bbox with stroke color indicating confidence.
+///
+/// # Color coding
+///
+/// - Red (#ef4444): confidence < 0.5 (low)
+/// - Yellow (#eab308): 0.5 <= confidence < 0.8 (medium)
+/// - Green (#22c55e): confidence >= 0.8 (high)
+/// - Gray (#94a3b8): no confidence value (direct extraction)
+///
+/// # Data attributes
+///
+/// Each rect includes:
+/// - `data-text`: the span's text content (XML-escaped)
+/// - `data-confidence`: confidence score or empty string
+/// - `data-font`: font name (XML-escaped)
+/// - `data-size`: font size in points
+pub fn render_spans(spans: &[SpanJson]) -> Vec<String> {
+    spans.iter().map(|span| {
+        let [x0, y0, x1, y1] = span.bbox;
+        let width = x1 - x0;
+        let height = y1 - y0;
+        let stroke = confidence_to_color(span.confidence);
+        let data_text = escape_xml_attr(&span.text);
+        let data_font = escape_xml_attr(&span.font);
+        let confidence_str = span.confidence.map(|c| c.to_string()).unwrap_or_default();
+        let data_confidence = escape_xml_attr(&confidence_str);
+
+        format!(
+            r#"<rect x="{:.2}" y="{:.2}" width="{:.2}" height="{:.2}" fill="none" stroke="{}" stroke-width="1" class="span-rect" data-text="{}" data-confidence="{}" data-font="{}" data-size="{}" />"#,
+            x0, y0, width, height, stroke, data_text, data_confidence, data_font, span.size
+        )
+    }).collect()
+}
+
+/// Convert a confidence score to an SVG stroke color.
+///
+/// # Arguments
+///
+/// * `confidence` - Optional confidence score (0.0 to 1.0)
+///
+/// # Returns
+///
+/// A CSS hex color string.
+///
+/// # Color mapping
+///
+/// - `None`: gray (#94a3b8) - direct extraction without OCR
+/// - `Some(c) where c < 0.5`: red (#ef4444) - low confidence
+/// - `Some(c) where 0.5 <= c < 0.8`: yellow (#eab308) - medium confidence
+/// - `Some(c) where c >= 0.8`: green (#22c55e) - high confidence
+fn confidence_to_color(confidence: Option<f64>) -> &'static str {
+    match confidence {
+        None => "#94a3b8", // gray - direct extraction
+        Some(c) if c < 0.5 => "#ef4444", // red - low confidence
+        Some(c) if c < 0.8 => "#eab308", // yellow - medium confidence
+        Some(_) => "#22c55e", // green - high confidence
+    }
+}
+
+/// Escape a string for use in an XML attribute value.
+///
+/// Replaces special XML characters with their entity references:
+/// - `&` → `&amp;`
+/// - `<` → `&lt;`
+/// - `>` → `&gt;`
+/// - `"` → `&quot;`
+/// - `'` → `&apos;`
+fn escape_xml_attr(s: &str) -> String {
+    s.replace('&', "&amp;")
+        .replace('<', "&lt;")
+        .replace('>', "&gt;")
+        .replace('"', "&quot;")
+        .replace('\'', "&apos;")
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_empty() {
+        let spans: Vec<SpanJson> = vec![];
+        let output = render_spans(&spans);
+        assert!(output.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_single() {
+        let spans = vec![
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "Hello".to_string(),
+                bbox: [100.0, 200.0, 200.0, 220.0],
+                font: "Helvetica".to_string(),
+                size: 12.0,
+                confidence: None,
+                receipt: None,
+            }
+        ];
+
+        let output = render_spans(&spans);
+        assert_eq!(output.len(), 1);
+        let rect = &output[0];
+
+        // Check basic SVG structure
+        assert!(rect.contains("<rect"));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"x="100.00""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"y="200.00""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"width="100.00""#)); // 200 - 100
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"height="20.00""#)); // 220 - 200
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"fill="none""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"stroke-width="1""#));
+
+        // Check gray stroke for no confidence (direct extraction)
+        assert!(rect.contains("stroke=\"#94a3b8\""));
+
+        // Check data attributes
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"data-text="Hello""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"data-font="Helvetica""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"data-size="12""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"data-confidence="""#)); // empty string for None
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_confidence_colors() {
+        let test_cases = [
+            (None, "#94a3b8"),           // gray - no confidence
+            (Some(0.3), "#ef4444"),      // red - low
+            (Some(0.5), "#eab308"),      // yellow - medium (boundary)
+            (Some(0.6), "#eab308"),      // yellow - medium
+            (Some(0.79), "#eab308"),     // yellow - medium (boundary)
+            (Some(0.8), "#22c55e"),      // green - high (boundary)
+            (Some(0.95), "#22c55e"),     // green - high
+            (Some(1.0), "#22c55e"),      // green - perfect
+        ];
+
+        for (confidence, expected_color) in test_cases {
+            let spans = vec![
+                SpanJson {
+                    text: "Test".to_string(),
+                    bbox: [0.0, 0.0, 10.0, 10.0],
+                    font: "Arial".to_string(),
+                    size: 10.0,
+                    confidence,
+                    receipt: None,
+                }
+            ];
+
+            let output = render_spans(&spans);
+            assert_eq!(output.len(), 1);
+            assert!(
+                output[0].contains(&format!("stroke=\"{}\"", expected_color)),
+                "Confidence {:?} should produce color {}, got: {}",
+                confidence, expected_color, output[0]
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_data_attributes() {
+        let spans = vec![
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "Test & <quote>".to_string(),
+                bbox: [50.0, 100.0, 150.0, 120.0],
+                font: "Times \"Roman\"".to_string(),
+                size: 14.0,
+                confidence: Some(0.85),
+                receipt: None,
+            }
+        ];
+
+        let output = render_spans(&spans);
+        let rect = &output[0];
+
+        // Check XML escaping in data attributes
+        assert!(rect.contains("data-text=\"Test &amp; &lt;quote&gt;\""));
+        assert!(rect.contains("data-font=\"Times &quot;Roman&quot;\""));
+        assert!(rect.contains("data-confidence=\"0.85\""));
+        assert!(rect.contains("data-size=\"14\""));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_multiple() {
+        let spans = vec![
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "First".to_string(),
+                bbox: [0.0, 0.0, 50.0, 10.0],
+                font: "Arial".to_string(),
+                size: 10.0,
+                confidence: Some(0.9), // green
+                receipt: None,
+            },
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "Second".to_string(),
+                bbox: [60.0, 0.0, 120.0, 10.0],
+                font: "Arial".to_string(),
+                size: 10.0,
+                confidence: Some(0.6), // yellow
+                receipt: None,
+            },
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "Third".to_string(),
+                bbox: [130.0, 0.0, 180.0, 10.0],
+                font: "Arial".to_string(),
+                size: 10.0,
+                confidence: Some(0.3), // red
+                receipt: None,
+            },
+        ];
+
+        let output = render_spans(&spans);
+        assert_eq!(output.len(), 3);
+
+        // Check that each has the correct color
+        assert!(output[0].contains("stroke=\"#22c55e\"")); // green
+        assert!(output[1].contains("stroke=\"#eab308\"")); // yellow
+        assert!(output[2].contains("stroke=\"#ef4444\"")); // red
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_css_class() {
+        let spans = vec![
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "Test".to_string(),
+                bbox: [0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 20.0],
+                font: "Arial".to_string(),
+                size: 12.0,
+                confidence: None,
+                receipt: None,
+            }
+        ];
+
+        let output = render_spans(&spans);
+        assert!(output[0].contains(r#"class="span-rect""#));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_confidence_to_color_boundaries() {
+        // Test exact boundary conditions
+        assert_eq!(confidence_to_color(None), "#94a3b8");
+        assert_eq!(confidence_to_color(Some(0.0)), "#ef4444");
+        assert_eq!(confidence_to_color(Some(0.49)), "#ef4444");
+        assert_eq!(confidence_to_color(Some(0.5)), "#eab308");
+        assert_eq!(confidence_to_color(Some(0.79)), "#eab308");
+        assert_eq!(confidence_to_color(Some(0.8)), "#22c55e");
+        assert_eq!(confidence_to_color(Some(1.0)), "#22c55e");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_escape_xml_attr() {
+        assert_eq!(escape_xml_attr("hello"), "hello");
+        assert_eq!(escape_xml_attr("a&b"), "a&amp;b");
+        assert_eq!(escape_xml_attr("<tag>"), "&lt;tag&gt;");
+        assert_eq!(escape_xml_attr("\"quote\""), "&quot;quote&quot;");
+        assert_eq!(escape_xml_attr("'apos'"), "&apos;apos&apos;");
+        assert_eq!(
+            escape_xml_attr("All & <special> \"chars'"),
+            "All &amp; &lt;special&gt; &quot;chars&apos;"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_float_bbox() {
+        let spans = vec![
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "Float".to_string(),
+                bbox: [10.567, 20.891, 100.234, 110.567],
+                font: "Arial".to_string(),
+                size: 12.5,
+                confidence: None,
+                receipt: None,
+            }
+        ];
+
+        let output = render_spans(&spans);
+        let rect = &output[0];
+
+        // Check that coordinates are rounded to 2 decimal places
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"x="10.57""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"y="20.89""#));
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"width="89.67""#)); // 100.234 - 10.567
+        assert!(rect.contains(r#"height="89.68""#)); // 110.567 - 20.891
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_render_spans_output_is_valid_svg() {
+        let spans = vec![
+            SpanJson {
+                text: "Valid".to_string(),
+                bbox: [0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 20.0],
+                font: "Arial".to_string(),
+                size: 12.0,
+                confidence: Some(0.95),
+                receipt: None,
+            }
+        ];
+
+        let output = render_spans(&spans);
+        let rect = &output[0];
+
+        // Verify basic XML structure
+        assert!(rect.starts_with("<rect"));
+        assert!(rect.ends_with(" />"));
+
+        // Check that all required attributes are present
+        assert!(rect.contains("x="));
+        assert!(rect.contains("y="));
+        assert!(rect.contains("width="));
+        assert!(rect.contains("height="));
+        assert!(rect.contains("fill="));
+        assert!(rect.contains("stroke="));
+        assert!(rect.contains("stroke-width="));
+        assert!(rect.contains("class="));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/pdftract-cli/src/lib.rs b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/lib.rs
index e71a11a..a7dd875 100644
--- a/crates/pdftract-cli/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/pdftract-cli/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 //!
 //! This library exports the CLI's internal modules for integration testing.
 
+pub mod inspect;
 pub mod mcp;
 
 // Re-export diagnostics for testing
diff --git a/notes/pdftract-p4vzu.md b/notes/pdftract-p4vzu.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a148c5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/notes/pdftract-p4vzu.md
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+# pdftract-p4vzu: Inspector layer renderer - render_spans
+
+## Summary
+
+Implemented `render_spans` helper that builds SVG outline rectangles for each Span, with stroke color-coded by confidence level (red < 0.5; yellow 0.5-0.8; green > 0.8; gray for None). Sets data-* attributes for tooltip + click consumption.
+
+## Files Created
+
+- `crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/mod.rs` - Inspector module root
+- `crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/mod.rs` - Layer renderers module
+- `crates/pdftract-cli/src/inspect/render/spans.rs` - Span layer renderer
+
+## Files Modified
+
+- `crates/pdftract-cli/src/lib.rs` - Added `pub mod inspect;`
+
+## Implementation Details
+
+### `render_spans(spans: &[SpanJson]) -> Vec<String>`
+
+Returns a vector of SVG `<rect>` element strings. Each rect:
+- Positioned at the span's bbox with `x`, `y`, `width`, `height` attributes
+- `fill="none"` with stroke color based on confidence
+- Stroke width of 1 pixel
+- CSS class `span-rect` for frontend toggling
+- Data attributes:
+  - `data-text`: text content (XML-escaped)
+  - `data-confidence`: confidence score or empty string
+  - `data-font`: font name (XML-escaped)
+  - `data-size`: font size in points
+
+### Color Mapping
+
+- `None`: `#94a3b8` (gray) - direct extraction without OCR
+- `Some(c) where c < 0.5`: `#ef4444` (red) - low confidence
+- `Some(c) where 0.5 <= c < 0.8`: `#eab308` (yellow) - medium confidence
+- `Some(c) where c >= 0.8`: `#22c55e` (green) - high confidence
+
+### XML Escaping
+
+The `escape_xml_attr` function properly escapes special characters in attribute values:
+- `&` → `&amp;`
+- `<` → `&lt;`
+- `>` → `&gt;`
+- `"` → `&quot;`
+- `'` → `&apos;`
+
+## Tests
+
+All 10 unit tests pass:
+
+1. `test_render_spans_empty` - Empty input produces empty output
+2. `test_render_spans_single` - Single span renders correctly with all attributes
+3. `test_render_spans_confidence_colors` - All confidence boundary conditions produce correct colors
+4. `test_render_spans_data_attributes` - XML escaping works correctly
+5. `test_render_spans_multiple` - Multiple spans each get correct colors
+6. `test_render_spans_css_class` - CSS class is present
+7. `test_confidence_to_color_boundaries` - Boundary values map correctly
+8. `test_escape_xml_attr` - XML escaping function works
+9. `test_render_spans_float_bbox` - Float coordinates are rounded to 2 decimal places
+10. `test_render_spans_output_is_valid_svg` - Output is well-formed SVG
+
+## Acceptance Criteria Status
+
+- ✅ Helper compiles and produces valid SVG output
+- ✅ Layer is independently toggleable via CSS class (`class="span-rect"`)
+- ✅ data-* attrs populated for downstream UI consumption
+- ⚠️ Renders correctly in headless browser (deferred - requires fixture)
+- ✅ Performance: Pure function, no I/O, deterministic
+
+## Performance Note
+
+The implementation is a pure function with no I/O or external state. For 1000 spans on a typical page:
+- String allocation: ~1000 small strings (~100 bytes each) = ~100 KB
+- Time complexity: O(n) where n = number of spans
+- Should render in well under 200ms for 1000 elements
+
+## Deferrals
+
+- Headless browser pixel-match fixture: Requires Phase 7.9.3 frontend CSS to be implemented first. The SVG output is structurally correct and follows the same pattern as the existing receipt SVG code.
+
+## Git Commit
+
+```
+feat(pdftract-p4vzu): implement inspector render_spans layer
+
+Implements the span layer renderer for the inspector debug viewer.
+Renders SVG outline rectangles for each text span, color-coded by
+extraction confidence. Red (< 0.5), yellow (0.5-0.8), and green (> 0.8)
+indicate low, medium, and high confidence respectively. Gray indicates
+direct extraction without OCR.
+
+Each rect includes data-* attributes for tooltip and click consumption:
+- data-text: the extracted text content (XML-escaped)
+- data-confidence: confidence score or empty string
+- data-font: font name (XML-escaped)
+- data-size: font size in points
+
+All 10 unit tests pass. The implementation follows the existing SVG
+generation pattern in pdftract-core/src/receipts/svg.rs.
+
+Closes: pdftract-p4vzu
+```