Javascript pdf Generation Libraries

Ever wanted to turn your webpage into a downloadable PDF? Or maybe you’re building an app that creates invoices, tickets, or reports on the fly. Guess what? JavaScript has you covered! With a bunch of powerful libraries, you can generate PDFs directly in your browser or server-side with ease. Let’s dive into the fun world of JavaScript PDF generation.

TL;DR

JavaScript has several excellent libraries for generating PDFs like jsPDF, PDFMake, and html2pdf. These tools can turn your HTML and data into slick, ready-to-print documents. Some work in the browser, others on the server, and some do both! Perfect for building invoices, reports, resumes, and more.

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Why Generate PDFs with JavaScript?

PDFs are great for saving information in a fixed format. They’re also perfect when you want your content to look the same on every device. With JavaScript, you don’t need to rely on backend solutions or third-party services to generate them. That means faster, more interactive apps.

• All in your browser
• No server processing needed
• Lightweight and fast
• Customizable content and styling

Now let’s explore the most popular and loved JavaScript PDF generation libraries.

1. jsPDF – The King of Client-Side PDF

jsPDF is one of the most well-known libraries for creating PDFs right in the browser. Launched in 2009, it’s lightweight and super easy to use.

Features:

• Create PDFs from scratch
• Add text, images, and shapes
• Supports custom fonts
• Plugins available for more options

Example:

  const { jsPDF } = window.jspdf;
  const doc = new jsPDF();
  doc.text("Hello world!", 10, 10);
  doc.save("hello.pdf");

Just like that, your PDF is ready and downloaded. It’s as easy as printing a message to the console.

2. html2pdf.js – HTML to PDF, Magic!

Want to turn your existing webpage or a section of it into a PDF? html2pdf.js has your back. It uses jsPDF and html2canvas under the hood to take a screenshot of your HTML and pack it into a PDF file.

Perfect for:

• Print-ready reports
• In-browser resume builders
• Invoices from HTML tables

Example:

  const element = document.getElementById('invoice');
  html2pdf().from(element).save();

Simple, right? Just pass a DOM element, and boom—a PDF!

3. PDFMake – A Powerhouse for Structured Documents

Need to have complete control over the layout of your PDF? Look no further than PDFMake. It uses a declarative approach, meaning you describe the document and it builds it.

Best for:

• Documents with tables, headers, and footers
• Localized documents (multi-language support)
• Invoices, contracts, structured reports

Example:

  var docDefinition = {
    content: [
      { text: 'This is a header', style: 'header' },
      'This is an unstyled paragraph',
      { text: 'Styled paragraph', style: 'anotherStyle' }
    ],
    styles: {
      header: { fontSize: 18, bold: true },
      anotherStyle: { italics: true, fontSize: 12 }
    }
  };
  pdfMake.createPdf(docDefinition).download('document.pdf');

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This gives you professional, structured PDFs with full layout control. Ideal for serious documents.

4. Puppeteer – Server-Side Screenshot Hero

Puppeteer is different. It’s a Node.js library developed by Google to control Chromium or Chrome. You can use it to render your webpage and save it as a PDF.

Why use it?

• Perfect accuracy—looks just like in the browser
• Great for server-side rendering
• Supports CSS and modern HTML

Example:

  const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
  (async () => {
    const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
    const page = await browser.newPage();
    await page.goto('https://example.com');
    await page.pdf({ path: 'example.pdf', format: 'A4' });
    await browser.close();
  })();

Need a full-page, accurate PDF from your website? Puppeteer is the way to go. Although it’s heavier and runs only on the server, it gives unmatched fidelity.

5. PDF-lib – Edit Existing PDFs

What if you want to edit existing PDFs? Like filling a form or adding annotations? That’s when PDF-lib shines. It’s a pure JavaScript library to create and modify PDFs in any environment.

Cool uses:

• Fill out existing templates
• Insert or remove pages
• Add images, signatures, and annotations

Example:

  import { PDFDocument } from 'pdf-lib';
  const existingPdf = await fetch(url).then(res => res.arrayBuffer());
  const doc = await PDFDocument.load(existingPdf);
  const pages = doc.getPages();
  pages[0].drawText('Signed by Alice', { x: 50, y: 500 });
  const pdfBytes = await doc.save();

This library is ideal if you’re working with pre-made documents and just need dynamic changes.

When to Use What?

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you pick:

• jsPDF: For quick, simple PDF creation with custom input.
• html2pdf.js: When you already have HTML and need a screenshot-like PDF.
• PDFMake: When you want full layout control and need a document-like design.
• Puppeteer: For cutting-edge styling and server-side generation.
• PDF-lib: When editing and form-filling existing PDFs.

Bonus Tools

Some other tools worth checking:

• React-pdf: Render PDFs directly in React using components.
• Print.js: Not exactly for generation, but great for printing complex HTML as PDF.
• jspdf-autotable: A plug-in for jsPDF to easily add tables with headers, styles, and more.

Tips & Best Practices

• Use fonts wisely—some libraries have limited font support.
• Test PDF rendering on different devices.
• Consider file size and image compression.
• If printing HTML, ensure your CSS is print-friendly.

Conclusion

Creating PDFs in JavaScript is surprisingly easy and extremely powerful. Whether you’re building an invoice generator, a portfolio app, or digital contracts—you have the right tool for the job.

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So pick the right library, throw in some creativity, and let JavaScript do the printing magic!