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Use a PHP PDF library when your HTML uses a supported, document-oriented CSS subset. Use Chromium when you need modern CSS, JavaScript execution, or close visual parity with a web page. The reliable workflow is to generate deterministic HTML, configure fonts and resources, render with the chosen engine, save or stream the PDF, and inspect representative output before shipping. No renderer is universally best; the template and deployment environment decide the trade-off.
Choose the rendering architecture first
HTML-to-PDF in PHP normally follows one of three architectures:
- PHP-native rendering: a Composer package parses HTML and CSS inside the PHP process. Deployment is simpler, but CSS support is a documented subset rather than a complete browser.
- Browser-backed rendering: PHP invokes Chromium directly or through a wrapper. You gain current browser layout, JavaScript and web-font behavior, at the cost of a browser runtime that must be installed, patched and monitored.
- Separate rendering service: PHP sends HTML or a URL to a service such as Gotenberg. This keeps browser processes out of the web worker, but adds network, service-availability and version-management concerns.
Browser output can change after a Chromium update; PHP libraries can change when their parser or supported CSS subset changes. Pin versions, retain sample documents, and compare generated PDFs during upgrades. The TCPDF comparison page documents package metadata and capabilities checked on 31 August 2026; project requirements can change, so verify the current release documentation before deployment (TCPDF comparison).
Compare the main PHP options
| Approach | Best fit | Important constraints |
|---|---|---|
| Dompdf | Simple invoices, reports and tables where a PHP-only deployment is useful. | Mostly CSS 2.1; no flexbox or CSS Grid. Table rows must fit on one page. Remote files need explicit access configuration, and one Dompdf instance should not be reused for multiple documents (Dompdf documentation). |
| mPDF | UTF-8 documents needing headers, footers, page numbers, tables of contents, barcodes or print-oriented color features. | Its manual recommends headless Chrome for state-of-the-art CSS or mirroring existing pages (mPDF manual). |
| tc-lib-pdf | Pure-PHP projects that can target its documented HTML/CSS subset. | The current project states PHP 8.2 or later is required. Validate page flow against your actual templates (project site). |
| Browsershot/Chromium | Modern CSS, JavaScript, responsive layouts and close correspondence to a website. | PHP invokes Node, Puppeteer and Chromium; all must be installed, secured and maintained. |
| Gotenberg PHP | Teams that want Chromium and LibreOffice behind a separate HTTP service. | You operate or obtain the service and must handle network failures and renderer updates. |
| Snappy/wkhtmltopdf | Existing systems whose templates are already verified against its output. | wkhtmltopdf’s upstream was archived in January 2023 and its Qt WebKit engine predates much of CSS3; it is a legacy choice for new work (comparison). |
For a new project, start with Dompdf or mPDF only if your template fits their documented subset. Choose Chromium when fidelity to a modern site matters more than keeping rendering inside PHP.
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A complete Dompdf workflow
The following example shows the shape of a PHP-native implementation. Check the installed package’s current README and release requirements before copying it; Dompdf notes that its README can describe the latest stable code rather than the exact release you installed.
1. Install and prepare an isolated renderer
composer require dompdf/dompdfKeep templates separate from request data, escape user-controlled values, and use a dedicated renderer instance for each document. Set a predictable paper size and orientation. Restrict filesystem access with a configured chroot rather than granting the process access to the whole server.
2. Render and stream a PDF
<?php
require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
use DompdfDompdf;
use DompdfOptions;
$options = new Options();
$options->set('isRemoteEnabled', false);
$options->setChroot(__DIR__ . '/public');
$html = file_get_contents(__DIR__ . '/templates/invoice.html');
$dompdf = new Dompdf($options);
$dompdf->loadHtml($html, 'UTF-8');
$dompdf->setPaper('A4', 'portrait');
$dompdf->render();
$dompdf->stream('invoice.pdf', ['Attachment' => true]);For a stored file, use the renderer’s output method and write the bytes to a directory outside the web root. For an inline response, send a PDF content type and a safe, application-generated filename. Do not mix HTML, warnings or debug output into the response body; even one stray character can corrupt a PDF download.
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3. Handle images, styles and remote resources deliberately
Local images and stylesheets must be inside the configured chroot. Remote resources require isRemoteEnabled and either cURL or PHP’s allow_url_fopen support. Enabling unrestricted remote access can let a template fetch internal addresses, so prefer downloaded, validated assets or a tightly controlled host allowlist. Make image URLs absolute when the renderer cannot resolve relative paths.
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4. Avoid unsupported layout assumptions
Dompdf does not support CSS flexbox or Grid, and its documentation says table rows must fit on one page. Use block flow, floats only where supported, and deliberate page-break rules. Split very large tables into logical sections instead of relying on a row to break across pages. A document that looks correct in Chrome can therefore require a PDF-specific stylesheet.
mPDF for document-oriented output
mPDF accepts UTF-8 HTML and provides features commonly needed in reports and print workflows. A minimal integration follows the same lifecycle—construct, configure, write HTML, then output—but use the method names from the version installed through Composer and its manual (mPDF documentation). Configure font directories and fallback fonts for every language you generate, and define headers, footers, page numbering and margins in the library’s document settings rather than relying only on browser CSS.
mPDF’s own guidance is explicit: “If you are looking for state of the art CSS support, mirroring existing HTML pages, use headless Chrome.” Treat that as a decision boundary, not a promise that mPDF will reproduce a responsive website.
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Use Chromium for flexbox, Grid, advanced print CSS, JavaScript-generated content, web components or pages whose visual identity must match the browser. A PHP wrapper such as Browsershot still depends on Node, Puppeteer and a compatible Chromium binary. A separate service such as Gotenberg moves those dependencies to another process or host.
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Operational checklist
- Pin Node, Puppeteer and Chromium versions together.
- Run the browser with a restricted user and temporary profile directory.
- Set navigation and rendering timeouts; do not let a request hold a PHP worker indefinitely.
- Wait for the application-specific readiness signal, not merely the first HTML response, when JavaScript populates the page.
- Block access to private network ranges if arbitrary URLs can be submitted.
- Record renderer version, input identifier and failure reason for every job.
For high volume, queue jobs and return a job identifier instead of keeping an HTTP request open. A service architecture adds a network hop but lets you scale browser workers independently from PHP.
Make templates PDF-safe
Fonts and character sets
Declare UTF-8, install the required font files on the rendering host, and configure fallback fonts. Test accents, emoji, right-to-left scripts and CJK text separately; missing glyphs can appear as empty boxes even when Latin text works.
Images and external assets
Use deterministic asset URLs, verify MIME types, and set dimensions to prevent layout shifts. Inline small critical SVG or raster assets when the renderer’s URL policy makes external loading unreliable. Do not let untrusted HTML reference arbitrary URLs.
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Define page size, margins and print colors. Add explicit breaks before major sections, keep headings with their following content where supported, and test long paragraphs, invoices with many rows, landscape pages and an empty-data case. Browser and PHP engines can make different break decisions.
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Security
Escape values inserted into HTML, sanitize any user-authored markup, disable unnecessary scripts, and isolate temporary files. Remote-resource support and browser navigation are SSRF risks when URLs are user controlled.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Testing and reliability before production
- Create a fixture set containing short and long text, tables spanning several pages, images, custom fonts, non-Latin characters, headers, footers and intentional page breaks.
- Render each fixture in a clean environment and inspect page count, text extraction, image presence and visual output.
- Repeat renders to detect nondeterministic timestamps, remote assets or JavaScript.
- Run the fixtures after every package, PHP, browser or operating-system upgrade.
- Keep the original HTML and renderer version alongside failed output so defects can be reproduced.
Do not treat a successful HTTP response as proof of a correct document. A PDF can be syntactically valid while missing a font, clipping a table or silently omitting an image.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Flexbox or Grid collapses | PHP-native renderer does not implement those layout systems. | Rewrite the PDF stylesheet with supported blocks/tables or move the document to Chromium. |
| Images are blank | URL access is disabled, the file is outside chroot, or the URL is relative. | Use approved local paths, configure remote access with cURL where necessary, and make URLs resolvable. |
| Rows overlap or disappear | A table row cannot fit the page in Dompdf. | Split content into smaller rows/sections or use a renderer with suitable pagination. |
| Characters show as boxes | Font lacks glyphs or was not installed/configured. | Install and register a font with the needed coverage, then test UTF-8 input. |
| Browser jobs time out | JavaScript, network requests or resource loads never become idle. | Set a finite timeout, wait for a specific selector, remove unnecessary third-party requests and capture diagnostics. |
| PDF download is corrupt | PHP notices, whitespace or debug output preceded the PDF bytes. | Disable display errors for the endpoint, buffer carefully, and return only PDF bytes and headers. |
| Second Dompdf document is wrong | A renderer instance was reused and retained state. | Create a fresh Dompdf instance for every HTML document. |
Or skip the browser setup
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FAQ
Can PHP render any HTML page as a PDF?
No. PHP-native libraries implement subsets of HTML and CSS. A browser engine is the safer choice for modern layouts, but it introduces runtime and operational dependencies.
Should I use wkhtmltopdf for a new project?
Usually not. Its upstream was archived in January 2023 and its Qt WebKit engine is old. Keep it only when an existing system depends on verified output.
How do I choose between a local browser and a rendering service?
Use a local browser when latency and deployment control favor colocating the renderer. Use a service when isolating browser operations and independently scaling workers is more important.
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