Blog Post

Top JavaScript PDF libraries for PDF generation and manipulation

Hulya Masharipov

Working with PDFs in web development can be tricky, but luckily, there are several JavaScript libraries available that make generating and manipulating PDFs much easier.

In this post, we’ll explore the top JavaScript PDF libraries and provide a comparison based on their features, ease of use, and performance.

1. PDFKit

PDFKit is a popular and robust library for generating PDF documents in Node.js. It allows you to create multipage documents and add text, images, and other elements. It also supports embedding fonts. While it’s primarily server-side, it can also be used in the browser through Browserify.

Key features

Generates PDFs from scratch
Supports adding images, shapes, and custom fonts
Streams output to a file, HTTP response, or byte buffer
Works with both the server (Node.js) and browser

Use case

Ideal for generating PDFs from custom content — such as invoices, reports, and tickets — especially in Node.js applications.

Getting started with PDFKit

Initialize a new project and create an entry file (e.g. app.js):

mkdir my-pdfkit-app
cd my-pdfkit-app
npm init -y
touch app.js

Install PDFKit via npm:

npm install pdfkit

In your app.js file, add the following code to create a basic PDF document:

const PDFDocument = require('pdfkit');
const fs = require('fs');

const doc = new PDFDocument();
doc.pipe(fs.createWriteStream('output.pdf'));
doc.text('Hello, PDFKit!');
doc.end();

Run the script using Node.js to generate your PDF:

node app.js

Check your directory for the output.pdffile!

When to use PDFKit

Use PDFKit when you need to generate PDFs from scratch on the server, especially when building custom PDFs like invoices, reports, or tickets. It’s ideal for applications that need server-side PDF generation and manipulation.

To learn more about PDFKit, check out the following blog posts:

2. jsPDF

jspdf logo

jsPDF is a client-side PDF generation library that works directly in the browser. It’s a lightweight option, great for generating simple PDFs from HTML content, and it offers functionality like text, images, and annotations.

Key features

Simple API for generating PDFs in the browser
Supports text, images, and shapes
Can generate PDFs from HTML content
Provides plugin support for enhanced features (like HTML2PDF)

Use case

Best suited for client-side applications where you need to generate PDFs dynamically, such as form submissions, reports, or downloadable content.

Getting started with jsPDF

Install jsPDF via npm:

npm install jspdf

Add a basic HTML file to use jsPDF in the browser:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
	<head>
		<meta charset="UTF-8" />
		<meta
			name="viewport"
			content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"
		/>
		<title>jsPDF Example</title>
	</head>
	<body>
		<button id="generate-pdf">Generate PDF</button>

		<script src="node_modules/jspdf/dist/jspdf.umd.min.js"></script>
		<script>
			const { jsPDF } = window.jspdf;

			document
				.getElementById('generate-pdf')
				.addEventListener('click', function () {
					const doc = new jsPDF();
					doc.text('Hello, jsPDF!', 10, 10);
					doc.save('output.pdf');
				});
		</script>
	</body>
</html>

Open the HTML file in a browser, and when you click the Generate PDF button, it’ll create and download a PDF.

When to use jsPDF

jsPDF is best suited for client-side applications where you need to generate PDFs dynamically from HTML content, such as form submissions or downloadable reports.

To learn more about jsPDF, check out the following blog posts:

3. PDF-lib

PDF-lib is a powerful library that allows you to create, modify, and fill PDF documents in both the browser and Node.js. It’s well-suited for manipulating existing PDFs, such as filling forms or merging documents.

Key features

Create and modify PDFs
Supports filling out forms and embedding images
Works on both the client side and server side
No external dependencies, fully self-contained

Use case

Great for applications where you need to manipulate existing PDF files, such as filling form fields or adding annotations.

Getting started with PDF-lib

Initialize a new project and create an entry file:

mkdir my-pdf-lib-app
cd my-pdf-lib-app
npm init -y
touch app.js

Install the library via npm:

npm install pdf-lib

In app.js, add code to generate and manipulate a PDF:

const { PDFDocument, rgb } = require('pdf-lib');
const fs = require('fs');

async function createPDF() {
	const pdfDoc = await PDFDocument.create();
	const page = pdfDoc.addPage([600, 400]);
	page.drawText('Hello, PDF-lib!', {
		x: 200,
		y: 300,
		size: 30,
		color: rgb(0, 0, 1),
	});

	const pdfBytes = await pdfDoc.save();
	fs.writeFileSync('output.pdf', pdfBytes);
}

createPDF();

Run your script to generate the PDF:

node app.js

You’ll now have output.pdf in your project directory.

When to use PDF-lib

PDF-lib is perfect for applications that need to manipulate existing PDF files, such as when filling out form fields, adding annotations, or merging multiple PDFs. It works well for both client-side and server-side PDF handling.

To learn more about PDF-lib, check out the following blog posts:

4. pdfmake

pdfmake logo

pdfmake is a high-level PDF generation library that uses a declarative approach for defining the content of a PDF. It’s easy to use and supports features like tables, lists, and images. It works for client-side and server-side PDF handling.

Key features

Declarative content definition
Supports text styling, tables, and images
Works in the browser and Node.js
Well-documented, with a large community

Use case

Perfect for generating PDFs with structured content, such as reports or catalogs, where layout and design are crucial.

Getting started with pdfmake

Install pdfmake via npm:

npm install pdfmake

Use pdfmake in the browser with the following HTML file:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
	<head>
		<meta charset="UTF-8" />
		<meta
			name="viewport"
			content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"
		/>
		<title>pdfmake Example</title>
	</head>
	<body>
		<button id="generate-pdf">Generate PDF</button>

		<script src="node_modules/pdfmake/build/pdfmake.js"></script>
		<script src="node_modules/pdfmake/build/vfs_fonts.js"></script>
		<script>
			document
				.getElementById('generate-pdf')
				.addEventListener('click', function () {
					const docDefinition = { content: 'Hello, pdfmake!' };
					pdfMake.createPdf(docDefinition).download('output.pdf');
				});
		</script>
	</body>
</html>

Open this HTML file in your browser, and click the Generate PDF button to generate and download a PDF.

When to use pdfmake

pdfmake is best suited for applications that require structured content in PDFs, such as reports with tables and images.

Check out the following blog post to learn more about how to use pdfmake:

How to convert HTML to PDF with JavaScript

5. PDF.js

JavaScript PDF Viewer pdf.js

PDF.js is primarily a PDF viewer, but it also offers tools for parsing and rendering PDF documents. It’s maintained by Mozilla and can be used to display PDF files in the browser. While not a generation tool, it’s invaluable for PDF display and manipulation on the client side.

Key features

Client-side PDF rendering
Supports parsing and rendering PDF documents
Works with HTML5 canvas for rendering
Maintained by Mozilla

Use case

Ideal for web applications that need to display or manipulate existing PDFs, such as e-readers or embedded document viewers.

Getting started with PDF.js

Download a recent copy of PDF.js from mozilla.github.io. Extract all the files in the downloaded copy of PDF.js.
Move pdf.mjs and pdf.worker.mjs from the build/ folder of the download to a new empty folder.
Use the following HTML file to display a PDF in the browser:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
	<head>
		<meta charset="UTF-8" />
		<meta
			name="viewport"
			content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"
		/>
		<title>PDF.js Example</title>
	</head>
	<body>
		<canvas id="pdf-canvas"></canvas>

		<script src="/pdf.mjs" type="module"></script>
		<script type="module">
			import { GlobalWorkerOptions } from 'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/build/pdf.min.mjs';

			GlobalWorkerOptions.workerSrc =
				'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/build/pdf.worker.min.mjs';

			const url = 'output.pdf'; // Replace with your PDF URL

			const canvas = document.getElementById('pdf-canvas');
			const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');

			pdfjsLib
				.getDocument(url)
				.promise.then((pdf) => {
					pdf.getPage(1).then((page) => {
						const viewport = page.getViewport({ scale: 1.5 });
						canvas.height = viewport.height;
						canvas.width = viewport.width;

						page.render({
							canvasContext: ctx,
							viewport: viewport,
						});
					});
				})
				.catch((error) => {
					console.error('Error loading PDF:', error);
				});
		</script>
	</body>
</html>

Open the HTML file in your browser to display the PDF from the URL.

When to use PDF.js

PDF.js is ideal for rendering and viewing PDFs directly in a web application. To learn more, check out the following blog posts:

6. Puppeteer

puppeteer logo

Puppeteer is a Node.js library that provides a high-level API to control Chrome or Chromium, allowing it to generate PDFs from web pages. It’s often used for server-side rendering of PDFs from dynamic web content.

Key features

Can generate PDFs from webpages
Supports complex layouts and styles
Ideal for headless browser automation

Use case

Useful for server-side PDF generation from websites or web applications with complex layouts, such as generating reports from dashboards or invoices from forms.

Getting started with Puppeteer

Create a new directory and initialize your Node.js project:

mkdir puppeteer-pdf-app
cd puppeteer-pdf-app
npm init -y
touch generatePDF.js

Puppeteer can be installed via npm. This will also install a compatible version of Chromium that Puppeteer controls:

npm install puppeteer

Open the generatePDF.js file and add the following code to generate a PDF of a web page:

const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');

async function generatePDF() {
	const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
	const page = await browser.newPage();

	await page.goto('https://example.com', {
		waitUntil: 'networkidle2',
	});
	await page.pdf({ path: 'example.pdf', format: 'A4' });

	await browser.close();
}

generatePDF();

Run the script using Node.js:

node generatePDF.js

The script will navigate to the specified URL and generate a PDF of the webpage as example.pdf in the project folder.

When to use Puppeteer

Puppeteer is a powerful tool for generating PDFs from dynamic web content, making it ideal for use cases like website snapshots, dynamic page rendering, or automated testing where you need a pixel-perfect PDF representation of a web page.

7. Nutrient Web SDK

JavaScript PDF Viewer Nutrient Web SDK Standalone

Nutrient Web SDK is an enterprise-grade JavaScript library for viewing, annotating, and editing PDFs directly in the browser. It offers advanced features like real-time collaboration, form filling, and digital signing.

Key features

Advanced PDF editing and annotation
Real-time collaboration features
Form filling and digital signing
High-quality PDF rendering

Use case

Best suited for applications that require a fully featured PDF editor or viewer, with the ability to add annotations, fill forms, and collaborate on documents.

Getting started with Nutrient

Install the pspdfkit package from npm. If you prefer, you can also download Nutrient Web SDK manually:

npm install pspdfkit

For Nutrient Web SDK to work, it’s necessary to copy the directory containing all the required library files (artifacts) to the assets folder. Use the following command to do this:

cp -R ./node_modules/pspdfkit/dist/ ./assets/

Make sure your assets directory contains the pspdfkit.js file and a pspdfkit-lib directory with the library assets.
Add the document you want to display to your project’s directory. You can use our demo file as an example.
Add an empty <div> element with a defined height to your HTML file where Nutrient will be mounted:

<div id="pspdfkit" style="height: 100vh;"></div>

Include pspdfkit.js in your HTML page:

<script src="assets/pspdfkit.js"></script>

Finally, initialize Nutrient Web SDK in JavaScript by calling PSPDFKit.load():

<script>
	PSPDFKit.load({
		container: "#pspdfkit",
  		document: "document.pdf" // Add the path to your file here.
	})
	.then(function(instance) {
		console.log("PSPDFKit loaded", instance);
	})
	.catch(function(error) {
		console.error(error.message);
	});
</script>

You can see the full index.html file below:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
	<head>
		<title>My App</title>
		<!-- Provide proper viewport information so that the layout works on mobile devices. -->
		<meta
			name="viewport"
			content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"
		/>
	</head>
	<body>
		<!-- Element where Nutrient will be mounted. -->
		<div id="pspdfkit" style="height: 100vh;"></div>

		<script src="assets/pspdfkit.js"></script>

		<script>
			PSPDFKit.load({
				container: '#pspdfkit',
				document: 'document.pdf', // Add the path to your document here.
			})
				.then(function (instance) {
					console.log('PSPDFKit loaded', instance);
				})
				.catch(function (error) {
					console.error(error.message);
				});
		</script>
	</body>
</html>

9. To serve the website, install the serve package: ```bash npm install
--global serve

Serve the contents of the current directory:

serve -l 8080 .

Navigate to http://localhost:8080 to view the website.

To learn more about Nutrient Web SDK, check out the following blog posts:

Comparison table

Library	PDF creation	PDF modification	Client-side	Server-side	Complexity	File size
PDFKit	Yes	No	No	Yes	Medium	Medium
jsPDF	Yes	No	Yes	No	Low	Small
PDF-lib	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Medium	Small
pdfmake	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Low	Medium
PDF.js	No	Yes	Yes	No	Medium	Medium
Puppeteer	Yes	No	No	Yes	Medium	Large
Nutrient	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Medium	Large

Conclusion

Choosing the right JavaScript PDF library depends on your project’s needs. For server-side PDF generation, PDFKit is a great option. For client-side work, jsPDF and pdfmake offer lightweight and flexible solutions, while PDF-lib excels at modifying existing PDFs and filling out forms.

If you need advanced rendering and viewing capabilities in the browser and server, Nutrient stands out with its robust document handling features.

Explore these libraries to find the best fit for your requirements, and if you want to learn more about Nutrient, feel free to reach out to our Sales team and try our demo.

FAQ

Here are a few frequently asked questions about JavaScript PDF libraries for PDF generation and manipulation.

What is the easiest JavaScript library for generating PDFs?

If you’re looking for simplicity, jsPDF is a lightweight and easy-to-use library for generating PDFs directly in the browser.

Can I modify existing PDFs with JavaScript libraries?

Yes, libraries like PDF-lib allow you to modify existing PDFs, including filling forms, embedding images, and adding annotations.

Which library is best for rendering PDFs in the browser?

PDF.js is the go-to option for rendering and viewing PDFs directly in the browser, making it perfect for web applications that need a PDF viewer.

Are there any libraries that work both on the server and client side?

PDF-lib, pdfmake, and Nutrient offer support for both client-side and server-side PDF handling, making them versatile choices for cross-platform PDF solutions.

Does Nutrient support server-side PDF processing?

Yes, Nutrient offers a server-side product that allows you to render, manipulate, merge, and split PDFs, making it suitable for high-performance document processing on the server.

Author

Hulya Masharipov Technical Writer

Hulya is a frontend web developer and technical writer at PSPDFKit who enjoys creating responsive, scalable, and maintainable web experiences. She’s passionate about open source, web accessibility, cybersecurity privacy, and blockchain.

Explore related topics

JavaScript PDF Generation Tips PDF.js PDF-lib PDFKit jsPDF pdfmake Puppeteer

1. PDFKit

Key features

Use case

Getting started with PDFKit

When to use PDFKit

2. jsPDF

Key features

Use case

Getting started with jsPDF

When to use jsPDF

3. PDF-lib

Key features

Use case

Getting started with PDF-lib

When to use PDF-lib

4. pdfmake

Key features

Use case

Getting started with pdfmake

When to use pdfmake

5. PDF.js

Key features

Use case

Getting started with PDF.js

When to use PDF.js

6. Puppeteer

Key features

Use case

Getting started with Puppeteer

When to use Puppeteer

7. Nutrient Web SDK

Key features

Use case

Getting started with Nutrient

Comparison table

Conclusion

FAQ

What is the easiest JavaScript library for generating PDFs?

Can I modify existing PDFs with JavaScript libraries?

Which library is best for rendering PDFs in the browser?

Are there any libraries that work both on the server and client side?

Does Nutrient support server-side PDF processing?

Explore related topics

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