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PDF Generating Libraries in Node.js

Introduction

Node.js developers have an array of PDF generating libraries at their disposal. In this post, we will be comparing five popular options: PDFKit, pdfmake, jsPDF, pdf-lib, and pdfme.

Comparison Based on Features

Each library has its own unique set of features catering to different aspects of PDF generation.

PDFKit

A powerful library that allows for complex PDF generation tasks. It includes features like:

// Example: Drawing a rectangle
let PDFDocument = require('pdfkit');
let doc = new PDFDocument();
doc.rect(10, 10, 100, 100).stroke();

pdfmake

Known for its high-level API which makes it user-friendly for defining PDF documents. For instance:

// Example: Adding text
let pdfmake = require('pdfmake');
let docDefinition = { content: 'This is an example alert.' };

jsPDF

This library is suitable for client-side PDF generation and can be used in web browsers, featuring functions like:

// Example: Text addition
let jsPDF = require('jspdf');
let doc = new jsPDF();
doc.text('Hello world!', 10, 10);

pdf-lib

Focuses on modifying existing PDF documents. It can be used to add pages, images, or text, as in:

// Example: Modify and embed a font
const { PDFDocument } = require('pdf-lib');
async function modifyPDF() {
  let existingPdfBytes = // ... load a PDF document ...
  let pdfDoc = await PDFDocument.load(existingPdfBytes);
  // ... modify the document ...
};
modifyPDF();

pdfme

Emphasizes ease of defining PDF templates and filling them with data, exemplified by:

// Example: Create a template
const { createPdf } = require('pdfme');
let template = { /* ...Define template... */ };
let data = { /* ...Data to fill... */ };
createPdf(template, data).toFile('./output.pdf',()=>{});

 

Here’s a the comparison chart  for PDFKit, pdfmake, jsPDF, and pdf-lib:

Feature PDFKit pdfmake jsPDF pdf-lib
Documentation Well-documented Well-documented Well-documented Well-documented
Ease of Use Generally user-friendly API User-friendly API Simple and easy to use User-friendly API
Browser Compatibility Compatible with modern browsers Primarily designed for server-side use Compatible with modern browsers Compatible with modern browsers
Server-side Support Primarily designed for server-side use Primarily designed for client-side use Limited support, primarily used in the browser Designed for server-side PDF generation
License MIT License MIT License MIT License MIT License
Text Handling Supports basic text handling Supports rich text formatting Supports basic text handling Supports basic text handling
Graphics & Shapes Comprehensive support for shapes Limited support for shapes and graphics Basic support for shapes and graphics Comprehensive support for shapes and graphics
Images Supports image embedding Supports image embedding Supports image embedding Supports image embedding
Fonts Supports custom fonts and embedding Supports custom fonts Limited font support Supports custom fonts and font embedding
Performance Efficient for server-side PDF generation Good performance for client-side PDF generation Generally good for small to medium-sized documents Efficient for server-side PDF generation
Community Support Active community support Active community support Active community support Active community support
Updates Regular updates and maintenance Regular updates and maintenance Regular updates and maintenance Regular updates and maintenance
Text Formatting Basic text formatting options Rich text formatting options Basic text formatting options Limited text formatting options
Page Layout Basic page layout control Limited control over page layout Limited control over page layout Advanced control over page layout
Watermark Support Yes No Limited Yes
Interactive Forms Limited support Limited support Limited support Limited support
Encryption Limited support No No Limited support

 

Conclusive Summary

In conclusion, Node.js developers have a rich selection of PDF Generating Libraries to choose from. PDFKit and pdf-lib offer more control for complex PDFs, with the latter being particularly suited for editing preexisting files. For those looking for simplicity and ease of use, pdfmake and pdfme are excellent choices. jsPDF, on the other hand, is versatile with its client-side generation capabilities. All libraries are permissively licensed under the MIT license, removing most restrictions on usage in a variety of projects.

References

 

ByRavishanker Kusuma
Updated on