Generate PDFs in PHP with 5 Popular Libraries (Best in 2024)

Introduction

PHP is one of the most widely used programming languages for web development, known for its versatility and ease of use. Among its many capabilities, PHP also supports the generation of PDF files, making it a valuable tool for creating reports, invoices, and other downloadable documents.

In this article, we will explore five popular PHP libraries for generating PDFs: FPDF, TCPDF, Dompdf, mPDF, and Snappy. Each library offers unique features and functionalities, so you can choose the best one for your project’s requirements.

Note: If you’re specifically interested in generating PDFs from HTML, check out our detailed guide: Convert HTML to PDF with PHP.

Popular Libraries for PDF Generation in PHP

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most commonly used libraries for generating PDFs in PHP.

1. FPDF

FPDF is one of the most basic and popular libraries for generating PDFs in PHP. It supports essential features like page formatting, adding images, links, and automatic line and page breaks. However, its HTML support is limited.

Installation

No installation is needed. Just include the fpdf.php file in your project.

Example Usage

require('fpdf.php');

$pdf = new FPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->SetFont('Arial', 'B', 16);
$pdf->Cell(40, 10, 'Hello World!');
$pdf->Output();

2. TCPDF

TCPDF is a comprehensive library for creating PDF documents, offering support for multiple languages, advanced page layouts, and vector graphics. It’s well-suited for creating complex documents.

Installation

composer require tecnickcom/tcpdf

Example Usage

require_once('tcpdf.php');

$pdf = new TCPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', '', 12);
$pdf->Write(0, 'Hello World!');
$pdf->Output('example.pdf', 'I');

3. Dompdf

Dompdf is a popular library for generating PDFs from HTML and CSS. It’s easy to use and supports most CSS features, making it ideal for converting web pages into PDFs.

Installation

composer require dompdf/dompdf

Example Usage

use Dompdf\Dompdf;

$dompdf = new Dompdf();
$dompdf->loadHtml('<h1>Hello World</h1>');
$dompdf->render();
$dompdf->stream();

4. mPDF

mPDF is a fork of FPDF with added features like support for UTF-8 characters, CSS styles, and embedding images. It’s ideal for projects that require rich formatting and non-Latin languages.

Installation

composer require mpdf/mpdf

Example Usage

use Mpdf\Mpdf;

$mpdf = new Mpdf();
$mpdf->WriteHTML('<h1>Hello World</h1>');
$mpdf->Output();

5. Snappy

Snappy is a PHP wrapper for the wkhtmltopdf command-line tool, which converts HTML to PDFs using the WebKit rendering engine. It provides high-fidelity conversion from web pages to PDFs.

Installation

composer require knplabs/knp-snappy

Example Usage

use Knp\Snappy\Pdf;

$snappy = new Pdf('/usr/local/bin/wkhtmltopdf');
$snappy->generate('https://example.com', '/path/to/file.pdf');

Comparing the 5 Libraries for PDF Generation in PHP

Here’s a comparison of the five libraries based on different criteria:

Conclusion

This article explored five popular PHP libraries for generating PDFs: FPDF, TCPDF, Dompdf, mPDF, and Snappy. Each library serves different purposes, whether you’re generating simple PDFs, converting HTML to PDF, or handling complex document layouts.

If you’re working on a project that requires simple PDFs with minimal dependencies, FPDF is a great choice. For more complex documents with advanced features, TCPDF or mPDF would be ideal. If your project involves converting HTML to PDF, Dompdf or Snappy can meet your needs.

Each library has its strengths, so choose the one that best fits your requirements. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution, Templated offers robust PDF generator API and conversion tools that can simplify your workflow.

Sign up for a free account and start generating PDFs today!