7 Best React PDF Viewer Libraries 2024

Here are some of the famous React PDF Viewer Libraries. React PDF Viewer Libraries can be used in Education, Business, Healthcare, Legal, and Government for various purposes. 

React PDF viewer libraries allow developers to display PDF files within a React application. These libraries provide features such as page selection, links, bookmarks, search, annotations, and support for various document formats. 

Let us have a look at some React PDF viewer libraries in detail. 

pdf.js 

• Does not rely on any third-party libraries or plugins. 
• Supports text search and navigation, text selection, text rotation, and more. 
• Supports PDF annotations, including highlighting, drawing, and note taking. 

react-pdf 

• Built using a lightweight virtual DOM and aims to provide fast rendering performance. 
• Support for multiple languages. 
• Supports the ability to add annotations. 

react-pdf-viewer 

• Has features like text selection, page navigation, full-text search, and thumbnail previews. 
• Supports many file formats, such as PDF, EPUB, PPTX, and more. 
• Has a fully customizable toolbar with buttons for zooming, printing, downloading, and more. 

react-pdf-highlighter 

• Support for undo/redo functionality for annotations and comments. 
• Ability to export annotations and comments as text. 
• Support for multiple selection modes, including text, area, and paragraph selections.

react-pdf-js 

• Enhanced security. 
• High-quality rendering. 
• Cross-platform support. 

reactjs-pdf-reader 

• Allows users to jump directly to a page from a table of contents. 
• Features thumbnail view of pages and supports page navigation. 
• Allows users to add bookmarks and annotations to a PDF. 

react-pdf-render 

• Has an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to quickly and easily view PDF documents. 
• Allows interactive features like page navigation, text search, and page zooming. 
• Provides fast loading times and smooth page transitions. 

FAQ:

1. Is it possible to use Create React App to create a new PDF document?  

Create React App (CRA) is primarily designed for creating web applications using React. Although it's not designed to make PDFs, you can still use it to build a web tool. This tool can generate PDFs or make a form that collects and turns data into a PDF.

Here is how you might approach it:  

1. Collect Data in a Form: Create a React component using the Create React App. It allows users to input the necessary data for your PDF document. It could be text, images, or any other relevant information.  
2. Generate PDF Content: Use a third-party library to generate the content for your PDF.  
3. Display or Download PDF: Once you generate the PDF, you can offer users the option to display or download it. You can use standard React components and HTML elements for this purpose.  

2. What is the Document component, and how does it work when using React-PDF?  

The 'Document' component is important for displaying PDF documents in React apps. It allows you to define the structure of the PDF document you want to display. It includes its pages and content. It stores the PDF document and helps organize and display the contents.  

Here is how the 'document' component works when using 'react-pdf':  

• Installation and import:  First, you should install the 'react-pdf' library in your project. You can do this using a package manager like yarn or npm. Next, import the required components from the library in your React component.  
• Usage of the 'Document' component:  You use the 'Document' component to define the structure of the PDF document. It accepts a 'file' prop which specifies the PDF URL you want to render. You can also use 'onLoadSuccess' and 'onLoadError' to handle loading events.  
• Using 'Page' and other components:  Inside the 'Document' component, you define individual pages using the 'Page' component. Each 'page' component displays the content that should be on that page. You can include various elements within a 'Page' like 'Images or 'Text.'  
• Rendering the PDF:  Finally, you can render the 'PDFViewer' component within your application. The 'react-pdf' library will display the PDF document according to your defined structure.  

PDF.js makes it easier to display PDFs in browsers with its 'Document,' 'Page,' and other parts. They offer a convenient way to work with PDF documents. You can make PDF views that are dynamic and interactive in your React apps.  

3. Can any other related React components use the Document component?  

The 'react-pdf' library offers React components that work with the 'Document' component. These components help you create advanced PDF views in your React app. These components allow you to add various types of content to your PDF documents.

Here are some of the key components:  

• 'Page' Component:  It represents an individual page within the PDF document. You can use it to organize and structure the content of each page.  
• 'Text' Component:  It allows you to add text content to your PDF. You can customize font sizes, alignment, color, and styles.  
• 'Link' Component:  It allows you to create hyperlinks within your PDF document. These links can navigate to other pages within the same document or external URLs.  
• 'Image' Component:  It will embed images within your PDF document. You can specify the source URL, dimensions, and other properties.  
• 'Canvas' Component:  It lets you draw custom content directly onto the PDF page, like shapes and graphics.  
• 'Layer' Component:  It allows you to create layers within your PDF document. You can use layers to show or hide specific content based on user interactions.  
• 'Outline' Component:  It represents an outline or table of contents for your PDF document. It allows users to navigate to specific sections of the document.  
• 'Viewer' Component:  It wraps up the 'Document' component. You can use it to control how the PDF viewer looks and works.  
• 'Note' Component:  It enables you to add annotations or notes to your PDF pages. These notes can be interactive and provide additional information.  
• 'Font' Component:  It provides the option to use custom fonts in your PDF document. It allows you to maintain consistent typography with your application's design.  

4. Where will you find its output folder after creating a document file?  

The PDF isn't saved to your computer when you use the 'react-pdf' library in a React app. Instead, the browser shows the PDF content within the React app. The application generates the PDF dynamically. It is not saved to a file on the server or the client's local machine by default.  

Here is how it works:  

• Dynamic Rendering:   If you use the 'react-pdf' library, the PDF document becomes a group of React components. It represents the document's structure and content.  
• No Physical Output:  The PDF appears in the browser without making a physical file. The application's JavaScript and the browser's rendering engine control the PDF content.  
• Browser Display:  A viewer inside the user's browser shows the PDF content. Users can view the PDF document without downloading or using external software.  

5. When should I use jsPdf or pdfMake instead of just React-PDF?  

Both 'react-pdf' and external libraries like 'pdfMake' and 'jsPDF' serve different purposes. You can use it in different scenarios based on your requirements.

Here is when you might consider using an external library in addition to or instead of 'react-pdf':  

• Complex PDF Generation:  Suppose you want to make custom PDFs with unique designs and interactive features. You can use graphs, tables, and charts for the features. If you want, you can use external libraries like 'jsPDF' or 'pdfMake.' These libraries offer fine-grained control over PDF content creation and layout.  
• Server-Side Generation:   An external library might be preferable if you need to generate PDFs on the server side. You can create PDFs in various locations, such as web browsers and servers. You can do this by using libraries like jsPDF and pdfMake.  
• Client-Side Interactivity:   If you need to add interactive elements to a PDF, such as forms or digital signatures, react-pdf won't work. It would help if you considered using a library like jsPDF or pdfMake.  
• Custom Layouts and Components:   External libraries often provide better support for custom layouts and components. If you want more design choices for your PDF with react-pdf, you can use another library to customize it.  
• Existing Integration:   If you already use a library like jsPDF or pdfMake, it's wise to keep using it for PDFs.  
• Performance Considerations:   One library may perform better than another library, depending on how you use it. When choosing a library, compare how fast it renders and how much memory it uses. Find one that fits your needs.  
• Community and Documentation:   Libraries such as jsPDF and pdfMake have been around for a long time. They have a large community and well-established documentation. If the features of an external library better match your needs, it's a good reason to choose it.  

To summarize, react-pdf is good for displaying PDF content in a React app. You can create PDFs with interactive features using libraries like jsPDF and pdfMake. They provide more flexibility and customization options. Think about what your project needs and the abilities of each library before you decide.