JavaScript PDF Printing: Which Library Delivers The Most Reliable Output

TL;DR: Printing PDFs in web apps can be a headache due to inconsistent rendering and missing annotations. This guide compares four JavaScript PDF printing methods DOM printing, iframe, Print.js, and Syncfusion’s PDF Viewer to help developers pick the most reliable, annotation-friendly, and cross-browser solution.

Printing PDFs in JavaScript sounds straightforward until you hit blurry text, misaligned layouts, or browser quirks. Whether you’re generating invoices, contracts, or reports, developers need a reliable method to print PDFs in JavaScript that works across Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. This post dives into three native JavaScript approaches to PDF printing:

• Basic DOM printing: Using window.print() for HTML content.
• Iframe-based printing: Embedding PDFs in an iframe for quick prints.
• Print.js library: A lightweight tool for streamlined PDF printing.

We’ll compare their pros, cons, code examples, and performance to help you choose the right method. For advanced needs like annotations or high-fidelity output, we’ll also introduce Syncfusion’s JavaScript PDF Viewer as a powerful add-on solution.

Let’s get started!

1. Basic DOM printing

Basic DOM printing uses JavaScript’s window.print() to trigger the browser’s native print dialog, ideal for printing HTML-based content like forms or dashboards.

<input type="button" id="printBtn" onclick="printPdf()" value="Print PDF" />
<script>
    function printPdf() {
        window.print();
    }

    document.getElementById('printBtn').addEventListener('click', printPdf);
</script>

Basic DOM printing in JavaScript window print

Pros

• Simple API to trigger printing.
• Customizable with CSS, using @media print.
• Works with all HTML content, including tables, forms, and styled sections.

Cons

• You can’t print a PDF file unless embedded in the page.
• No control over print lifecycle.
• Relies heavily on CSS for print styling.
• No support for printing annotations, forms, or remote files. Only prints what’s rendered in the DOM.

Real-world example

Printing a dynamic HTML invoice works well, but embedding a PDF as an <object> often results in rasterized, low-quality output, especially in Edge.

Best for: Simple HTML reports or dashboards without PDF-specific needs.

2. Iframe-based printing

One of the simplest ways to print a PDF in JavaScript is to embed it in an iframe and call the print() method. This triggers the browser’s default PDF viewer and print dialog.

<iframe src="gis-succinctly.pdf" id="pdfFrame" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="650px"></iframe>
<button onclick="printPdf()">Print PDF</button>
<script>
    function printPdf() {
        let objFra = document.getElementById('pdfFrame');
        objFra.contentWindow.focus();
        objFra.contentWindow.print();
    }
</script>

Iframe-based printing in JavaScript

Pros

• Users get the default browser PDF viewer and print dialog, which they’re accustomed to.
• Ideal for rapid development or proof-of-concept implementations.
• Supports various content types like PDFs, HTML pages, and images.

Cons

• Inconsistent rendering across browsers.
• Developers cannot programmatically adjust margins, scaling, or headers.
• Annotations and form fields may not print correctly.
• Multi-page or high-resolution PDFs may load slowly or fail to print reliably.
• No support for print lifecycle events.

Real-world example

Printing a 50-page contract in an iframe works in Chrome but may lose annotations in Safari or load slowly on mobile devices.

Best for: Quick prototypes or apps with basic PDF printing needs.

3. Print.js library

Print.js is a lightweight JavaScript library ( ~20KB minified ) that simplifies printing PDFs by injecting a hidden iframe and triggering the print dialog.

<button onclick="printJS('gis-succinctly.pdf')">Print PDF</button>
<iframe src="gis-succinctly.pdf" id="pdfFrame" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="650px"></iframe>

Print.js library printing in JavaScript

Pros

• The hidden iframe approach results in a smoother, more polished user experience.
• No visible viewer; printing is triggered directly via a button or function.

Cons

• Relies on the browser’s native PDF rendering.

• Users cannot view or interact with the document before printing.

• Limited control over print fidelity and layout.

• Adds a third-party library to your project.

• May not handle annotations or form fields accurately.

Real-world example

Print.js handles a 10-page report well in Chrome but may produce blurry output in Edge or drop form fields in Firefox.

Best for: Apps needing simple PDF printing with minimal setup and no viewer interaction.

Add-on solution: Syncfusion JavaScript PDF Viewer

For projects requiring high-fidelity output, annotations, or enterprise-grade features, Syncfusion’s JavaScript PDF Viewer is a premium add-on that outshines native methods. Unlike browser-dependent solutions, it offers vector-sharp rendering, full annotation support, and robust performance.

<script>
    // Initialize PDF Viewer component
    var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer({
        documentPath: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf',
        resourceUrl: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/30.1.37/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib'
    });

    // PDF Viewer control rendering starts
    pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');

    document.getElementById('print').addEventListener('click', function () {
        pdfviewer.print.print();
    });
</script>

Here’s a screenshot of the Syncfusion PDF Viewer’s printing UI:

Printing UI using Syncfusion JavaScript PDF Viewer

Why choose Syncfusion?

• Print fidelity: Vector-based rendering ensures crisp text and graphics, matching on-screen output.
• Annotations and forms: Prints comments, highlights, and form fields accurately.
• Performance: Streams large PDFs (e.g., 500+ pages) client-side without lag.
• Cross-browser: Consistent results across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.
• Security: Restricts downloads and printing for sensitive documents.
• Ease of use: Single API call handles all logic.

When to use

Choose Syncfusion for professional apps needing precise output (e.g., legal contracts, financial reports) or advanced features like annotations and security controls. For example, printing a 200-page annotated contract yields identical, high-quality results across browsers, unlike native methods.

Which method should you choose?

Use case	Recommended method
Simple HTML reports	DOM printing
Quick PDF prototypes	Iframe-based
Streamlined PDF printing	Print.js
High-fidelity, annotated PDFs	Syncfusion PDF Viewer

Comparison table: Print PDFs in JavaScript

Feature/scenario	Syncfusion PDF Viewer	Window.print()	Iframe	Print.js
Print resolution	✅ Vector-sharp, always	⚠️ Depends on content	⚠️ Varies, often raster	⚠️ Usually raster
Print reliability	✅ All browsers, all PDFs	⚠️ Browser-dependent (DOM only)	⚠️ Browser-dependent	⚠️ Browser-dependent
Annotations/forms	✅ Full support	❌ Not supported	❌ Not supported	❌ Not supported
Advanced pagination	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Asynchronous, fast	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (instant trigger, no load)	⚠️ Sometimes	⚠️ Sometimes
Security/control	✅ App context	❌ User can download	❌ User can download	❌ User can download

Conclusion

Not all JavaScript PDF printing methods offer the same level of reliability and output quality. While native approaches like DOM or iframe-based rendering are simple to implement, they often fall short when handling complex documents, especially those with annotations, forms, or strict layout requirements.

For developers building professional, document-intensive applications, the Syncfusion JavaScript PDF Viewerstands out as the optimal solution. Whether you’re printing invoices, contracts, or compliance reports, Syncfusion ensures that what users see on screen is exactly what they get on paper every time.

If you’re a Syncfusion user, you can download the setup from the license and downloads page. Otherwise, you can download a free 30-day trial.

You can also contact us through our support forum, support portal, or feedback portal for queries. We are always happy to assist you!

Related Blog

• How to Embed PDFs in HTML: Native Tags vs. Syncfusion JavaScript PDF Viewer
• From Manual to Magical: Syncfusion’s JavaScript AI PDF Viewer in Action
• Top 5 Free JavaScript PDF Viewer Libraries for Developers in 2025
• Introducing Syncfusion’s JavaScript PDF Viewer for Web

This article was originally published at Syncfusion.com.