Javascript pdf viewer libraries

A JavaScript PDF viewer library is a software package. It allows developers to render and interact with PDF documents within a web browser. These libraries provide tools, functions, and components. It enables developers to integrate PDF viewing capabilities into their web applications. PDF viewer libraries are responsible for rendering PDF documents within a web browser. They convert the PDF file into a visual representation that users can view and interact with. The libraries use HTML5 Canvas or SVG to display the PDF content. The uses of these libraries vary depending on the requirements of an application. We can employ them in applications. The application can be document management systems and e-learning platforms. The application can be digital publishing platforms and collaborative document editing tools. It displays and interacts with PDF content within a web browser.  

Let's look at each library in detail. The links below allow access package commands, installation notes, and code snippets.  

pdf.js:  

• PDF.js renders PDF files in the browser using JavaScript and HTML5 canvas.  
• The library provides options for customizing the rendering of PDF files. The options can be controlling zoom levels, page layout, and navigation.  
• This eliminates the need for platform-specific PDF viewers or plugins.  
• This lets users view PDFs within a web page without requiring a separate application.  

jsPDF:  

• jsPDF allows you to create PDF documents from scratch or modify existing ones.  
• The library provides formatting options like styles, text alignment, size, and color.  
• You can add new pages, terminate existing ones, or rearrange the page order. This feature enables you to create multi-page documents with ease.  
• It provides a straightforward API. It helps in creating, modifying, and downloading PDF documents using JavaScript.  

react-pdf:  

• The "react-pdf viewer" library is a JavaScript library. It allows you to render PDF documents in React applications.  
• It supports loading pages, rendering only visible pages, and efficient memory management. It helps improve the rendering performance.  
• You can customize the page size, width, zoom features, and rotation. You can then apply custom styles to elements within the PDF.  
• In addition to rendering PDF files, "react-pdf" provides utilities for generating PDF documents.  

viewerjs:  

• ViewerJS is an open-source JavaScript library. It provides a viewer for various file formats, including PDF.  
• It supports loading pages, rendering only visible pages, and efficient memory management. It helps improve the rendering performance.  
• You can integrate ViewerJS into your web application. You can do so by including the JavaScript and CSS files.  
• To use ViewerJS, you must include the ViewerJS library files in your HTML page. You can select the path or URL to the PDF file you want to display.  

PDFobject:  

• We can design the PDFObject to work across different browsers. The browsers can be Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and others.  
• It allows specifying fallback content. We can display if the user's browser doesn't support embedding PDFs or if we cannot load the PDF file.  
• PDFObject detects whether the user's browser has a PDF plugin installed.  
• It detects the browser and selects the appropriate PDF file embedding method.  

webviewer-ui :  

• WebViewer UI" library is a JavaScript library provided by PDFTron. It allows you to build custom document viewers or editors within web applications.  
• It lets you display and view document formats, like PDF, Microsoft Office, and images.  
• We can design the library to work across different browsers. The browsers can be Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer.  
• It is part of the PDFTron WebViewer SDK. It provides tools for working with PDFs and other document formats.  

pspdfkit-web-example-react:  

• PSPDFKit is a commercial JavaScript library. It provides comprehensive features for working with PDF documents in web applications.  
• Supports many platforms and browsers, including desktop and mobile devices.  
• It provides integration options with frameworks like React, Angular, and Node.js.  
• Provides tools for signing PDF documents, including creating, verifying, and managing digital signatures.  

FAQ:  

1. What types of viewer libraries exist for JavaScript PDF Viewer?  

Here are the types of JavaScript PDF viewer libraries available. Each of them will offer different features, customization options, and levels of complexity. Here are some common types of viewer libraries for JavaScript PDF viewing:  

• Rendering Libraries  
• Interactive Libraries  
• Full-Featured Solutions  
• Component Libraries  
• Lightweight Libraries  
• Commercial vs. Open-Source  

2. How do you display a PDF page in HTML using the JavaScript PDF viewer library?  

You must follow the steps to display a PDF page in HTML using a JavaScript PDF viewer library. Here is a general approach using the PDF.js library as an example:  

 1. Include the Library  

 2. Create an HTML Container  

 3. Load and Render PDF  

 4. Styling and Features  

3. Can we open a local PDF file with the JavaScript PDF Viewer library?  

Opening a local PDF file with a JavaScript PDF viewer library is possible. But there are some limitations due to security restrictions imposed by web browsers. In most modern web browsers, JavaScript running on a web page has limited access. It helps the user's local file system for security reasons. By default, JavaScript code on a web page cannot access local files on the user's machine. You must load the file using user-initiated actions to work around this limitation. The limitations can be through a file input field or drag-and-drop.  

4. Are Modern browsers compatible with the JavaScript PDF viewer library?  

Yes, modern browsers are generally compatible with JavaScript PDF viewer libraries. We can design JavaScript PDF viewer libraries to work across major browsers. The browsers can be Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and others. They leverage the capabilities of modern web technologies. They can be HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. It will provide a consistent and reliable PDF viewing experience.  

5. How can I get the page number from the JavaScript file used in the JavaScript PDF viewer library?  

To get the page number from a JavaScript file, you need to interact with the API provided by the library you use. The exact method and syntax may vary depending on the library you choose. Here's a general approach using the PDF.js library as an example:  

• Load the PDF Document  
• Get the Page Count  
• Navigate to a Specific Page