For .NET developers looking to integrate PDF generation in their applications, several open-source libraries provide robust, flexible options for creating, modifying, and exporting PDF files. Here are some top recommendations:
1. PDFsharp
PDFsharp is a popular open-source library for creating and processing PDF documents in .NET. It allows for easy creation of PDFs with text, images, and graphics.
Features:
- Supports text and graphics drawing on PDF pages.
- Enables merging, splitting, and modifying existing PDFs.
- Integrates well with MigraDoc for advanced document features.
Use Cases: Ideal for generating reports, invoices, and documents with both text and graphical elements.
2. iTextSharp (LGPL Version)
iTextSharp is a port of iText, a Java library for PDF generation, to .NET. While iText has a commercial version, the older LGPL version (5.x and prior) remains open-source and is still widely used.
Features:
- Extensive support for PDF document creation and manipulation.
- Ability to add digital signatures, encryption, and annotations.
- Flexible with both low-level (direct content manipulation) and high-level document generation.
Use Cases: Great for complex PDF generation tasks, such as filling forms or adding watermarks.
3. DinkToPdf (wkhtmltopdf wrapper)
DinkToPdf is a .NET wrapper for the popular wkhtmltopdf tool, which converts HTML to PDF using the WebKit rendering engine.
Features:
- Renders HTML as a PDF, making it easy to convert web pages or web-based reports.
- Supports CSS and JavaScript, allowing complex layouts.
Use Cases: Useful for applications that need to convert dynamic HTML content to PDF, such as web-based reporting systems.
4. PuppeteerSharp
PuppeteerSharp is a .NET port of Google’s Puppeteer, which can automate browser tasks, including PDF generation from HTML.
Features:
- Allows rendering HTML pages to PDF with precise control over layout.
- Provides options for setting up page size, margins, and print settings.
Use Cases: Ideal for applications that require pixel-perfect PDF generation of web pages or web app UIs.
5. QuestPDF
QuestPDF is a newer open-source .NET library for PDF generation that provides an intuitive API for creating documents with complex layouts.
Features:
- Fluent API design for building multi-page documents.
- Supports text, images, tables, and complex document layouts.
- Offers responsive layouts, allowing different content arrangements based on page size.
Use Cases: Suitable for generating reports, invoices, and documents that require precise layout control.
Conclusion
Each of these libraries offers unique features that can fit different project needs. For HTML-to-PDF conversion, DinkToPdf and PuppeteerSharp are excellent choices, while PDFsharp and iTextSharp provide more control over custom PDF generation. QuestPDF and MigraDoc are ideal for applications needing well-formatted, professional documents with complex layouts.
Andriy Kravets is writer and experience .NET developer and like .NET for regular development. He likes to build cross-platform libraries/software with .NET.
