HTML to PDF Conversion in PHP Using dompdf

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The dompdf library is a powerful tool for converting HTML documents to PDF in PHP. It’s widely used for generating invoices, reports, and other printable documents dynamically. Below is a detailed guide on how to use it effectively.

Installation

First, install dompdf via Composer:

composer require dompdf/dompdf

Basic Usage

Here’s a simple PHP script to convert HTML to PDF:

<?php
require 'vendor/autoload.php';
use Dompdf\Dompdf;

$dompdf = new Dompdf();
$html = '<h1>Hello, PDF!</h1><p>This is a test document.</p>';
$dompdf->loadHtml($html);
$dompdf->setPaper('A4', 'portrait');
$dompdf->render();
$dompdf->stream("document.pdf", ["Attachment" => false]);
?>

Advanced Features

  • Custom CSS Styling:
    $html = '<style>body { font-family: Arial; }</style></li>
    </ul>
    
    <h1>Styled PDF</h1>
    
    ';
    

    – Adding Images:

    <img src="path/to/image.jpg">
    

    – Generating PDF from URL:

    $html = file_get_contents('https://example.com');
    $dompdf->loadHtml($html);
    

    You Should Know:

    • Linux Command to Debug PHP PDF Generation:
      php -f generate_pdf.php > debug.log 2>&1
      
    • Windows Alternative:
      php generate_pdf.php > debug.log 2>&1
      
    • Check Dependencies:
      ldd $(which php) | grep -i gd
      
    • Optimize PDF Size:
      $dompdf->set_option('isPhpEnabled', true);
      $dompdf->set_option('isHtml5ParserEnabled', true);
      

    Expected Output:

    A PDF file (document.pdf) will be generated and opened in the browser.

    What Undercode Say:

    Dompdf is a reliable library for PHP-based PDF generation, but it has limitations with complex CSS3 and JavaScript. For high-performance needs, consider TCPDF or wkhtmltopdf.

    Prediction:

    Future versions may improve CSS3 support and reduce rendering time for dynamic web content.

    Relevant URLs:

    Expected Output:

    A functional PDF generated from HTML with proper formatting and styling.

    IT/Security Reporter URL:

    Reported By: Activity 7335806074454745089 – Hackers Feeds
    Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
    Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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