PDF Generation in PHP: Library Overview and Code Examples

PDF Generation in PHP: A Complete Overview of Tools and Libraries

Generating PDF documents on the server side is a common task in web development. From invoices and reports to certificates and books, the PDF format remains the standard for document workflow. In PHP, there are several mature libraries, each with its own strengths. In this article, we will review four main tools: FPDF, TCPDF, Dompdf, and mPDF, provide code examples, and help you choose the right solution for your project.

1. FPDF — Lightweight and Fast Library

FPDF is one of the oldest and most popular libraries for PDF generation in PHP. It requires no external dependencies, works quickly, and is ideal for simple documents: invoices, receipts, certificates.

Installation

composer require setasign/fpdf

Example: Simple PDF with Text and Image

<?phprequire_once 'vendor/autoload.php';

$pdf = new FPDF();$pdf->AddPage();$pdf->SetFont('Arial', 'B', 16);$pdf->Cell(40, 10, 'Hello, World!');$pdf->Image('logo.png', 10, 20, 30);$pdf->Output();?>

FPDF supports:

• Working with different fonts (TrueType, Type1)
• Creating tables, multi-line cells
• Inserting images (JPEG, PNG, GIF)
• Page numbering, headers and footers

Disadvantage: limited support for HTML and CSS — all elements must be created programmatically.

2. TCPDF — Powerful Tool for Complex Documents

TCPDF is an extended version of FPDF that adds support for Unicode, HTML tags, SVG, digital signatures, QR codes, and much more. It is excellent for creating invoices, certificates, reports with tables.

Installation

composer require tecnickcom/tcpdf

Example: PDF with HTML Content and Table

<?phprequire_once 'vendor/autoload.php';

$pdf = new TCPDF(PDF_PAGE_ORIENTATION, PDF_UNIT, PDF_PAGE_FORMAT, true, 'UTF-8', false);$pdf->AddPage();$html = '<h1>Heading</h1><table border="1"><tr><td>Cell 1</td><td>Cell 2</td></tr></table>';$pdf->writeHTML($html, true, false, true, false, '');$pdf->Output('example.pdf', 'I');?>

Key features of TCPDF:

• Full Unicode (UTF-8) and Cyrillic support
• Built-in templates, page numbering
• Vector graphics (SVG, PDF forms)
• Digital signatures, encryption
• JavaScript support in PDF

3. Dompdf — Generation from HTML/CSS

Dompdf allows you to create PDF from HTML markup, processing CSS (including Flexbox, Grid, media queries). It is ideal if you already have web templates or want to quickly turn an HTML page into a PDF.

Installation

composer require dompdf/dompdf

Example: PDF from HTML String

<?phpuse Dompdf\\Dompdf;

require_once 'vendor/autoload.php';

$dompdf = new Dompdf();$html = '<h2 style="color:blue;">Hello from Dompdf!</h2><p>This is a PDF generated from HTML.</p>';$dompdf->loadHtml($html);$dompdf->setPaper('A4', 'portrait');$dompdf->render();$dompdf->stream("document.pdf");?>

Features of Dompdf:

• Support for CSS 2.1 and partially CSS3
• Working with images, fonts (local and Google Fonts)
• Built-in Cyrillic support when using proper fonts
• Easy integration with frameworks (Laravel, Symfony)

Important: for complex layouts with JavaScript or anima