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To convert HTML to PDF in PHP, load the markup into a PDF renderer, render it, then either send the PDF to the browser or save its bytes to a file. This tutorial uses Dompdf: install it with Composer, call loadHtml(), optionally set the paper size, call render(), and use stream() or output(). The example is suitable for straightforward reports and invoices; it does not promise that every modern browser layout will render identically.
Video tutorial
For a visual walkthrough, see the CodexWorld video tutorial, “Convert HTML to PDF in PHP with Dompdf”, published November 15, 2022. The runnable example below shows the same basic conversion flow using Dompdf.
Install Dompdf and check your environment
In a Composer-managed project, install Dompdf from the project directory:
composer require dompdf/dompdfLoad Composer’s generated autoloader in your PHP entry point. Check the requirements for the exact Dompdf release you install: the project lists PHP 7.1 or newer, the DOM extension, php-font-lib, and php-svg-lib; MBString and GD are also relevant to processing support. Dependencies can have their own requirements, and compatibility can change by release. See the Dompdf project repository before deploying.
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Generate and deliver a PDF
This complete example creates a small HTML document, renders it as US Letter portrait, and sends the PDF to the browser. Save it as a PHP file served by your application, after installing Dompdf:
<?php
require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
use DompdfDompdf;
use DompdfOptions;
$options = new Options();
// Remote access is off by default. Leave it off unless the document needs
// to load remote images or stylesheets; see the security section below.
$dompdf = new Dompdf($options);
$html = '<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Monthly report</title>
<style>
body { font-family: DejaVu Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; }
h1 { color: #174ea6; }
table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }
th, td { border: 1px solid #999; padding: 6px; text-align: left; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Monthly report</h1>
<p>Generated by a PHP application.</p>
<table>
<tr><th>Item</th><th>Amount</th></tr>
<tr><td>Example service</td><td>$25.00</td></tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>';
$dompdf->loadHtml($html, 'UTF-8');
$dompdf->setPaper('letter', 'portrait'); // Optional; defaults can be used instead.
$dompdf->render();
$dompdf->stream('monthly-report.pdf', ['Attachment' => true]);Attachment => true asks the browser to download the PDF. Set it to false to request inline display, subject to browser behavior. Do not print debug text, warnings, or whitespace before the PDF response: extra output can corrupt the file.
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Save the rendered PDF instead
If the application needs to store the result, replace the stream() call with output() and write the returned bytes to a controlled destination:
$pdfBytes = $dompdf->output();
file_put_contents(__DIR__ . '/monthly-report.pdf', $pdfBytes);In a real application, choose a destination with appropriate access controls and handle write failures. Avoid using a user-provided filename or path without validation.
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Paper size, orientation, and document layout
setPaper() is optional. The example uses letter and portrait; other common print choices include A4 and landscape. Set the page format before render(). Your HTML and CSS should be designed for pages rather than assumed to behave exactly like a browser viewport. Dompdf documents mostly CSS 2.1 support with selected CSS3 behavior, including some @import, @media, and @page support. Test the actual document’s fonts, tables, images, and page breaks with the Dompdf release you deploy; its support description is not a guarantee of modern browser layout parity. Details are in the Dompdf tutorial.
Choose a PHP HTML-to-PDF renderer
Dompdf is one option, not a universal best choice. Compare renderers against the document’s layout requirements and the server environment. The cited project documentation describes capabilities; it does not establish a common benchmark or prove that one renderer is faster or more accurate for your page.
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| Renderer | What its documentation describes | Consider it when |
|---|---|---|
| Dompdf | PHP-based rendering, mostly CSS 2.1 with some CSS3 behavior; external stylesheets and images are subject to configuration and access restrictions. | You need a PHP library for conventional print-style pages and can work within its rendering and security model. Project and requirements. |
| mPDF | Accepts HTML and custom tags as well as PHP commands. Its project describes headers and footers, page numbering, tables of contents, barcodes, and print-oriented color handling. | Those document features fit your output. The manual recommends HTML/CSS for newcomers and warns that outside HTML/CSS needs vetting and sanitization. HTML or PHP guidance · First-file example and safety warning · Project and runtime details. |
| tc-lib-pdf | The current TCPDF project describes HTML/CSS rendering through addHTMLCell() and getHTMLCell(); its engine renders a subset itself rather than delegating to a browser engine, and an HTML cell can flow across pages. |
You need its documented PDF features and can build within its HTML/CSS subset. Consult the current workflow rather than relying only on legacy writeHTML() examples. Project overview · HTML/CSS guide. |
| wkhtmltox | The PHP manual documents interfaces to a library that renders HTML to PDF and image formats using QtWebKit. | Your deployment can accommodate the external library and its integration. This is a different deployment shape from a pure-PHP renderer. PHP manual. |
Before choosing, verify the selected release’s PHP version and extension requirements, whether its rendering matches the markup you need, and whether your host permits any external rendering dependencies. For mPDF, consult the repository for version-specific compatibility and extensions, including mbstring and gd; additional extensions may be needed for advanced features.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Handle external resources and untrusted HTML safely
Remote images and stylesheets
Dompdf disables remote access by default. Its documentation says remote files require enabling isRemoteEnabled and having cURL or allow_url_fopen; local and web resource references are also restricted for security. Only enable remote loading if the document requires it, and limit the files and hosts the renderer is allowed to access. Do not let an untrusted user choose arbitrary resource URLs for the server to fetch.
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User-provided markup
Treat HTML, CSS, and resource references supplied by users as untrusted input. mPDF explicitly warns against passing outside HTML/CSS directly to its renderer and calls for vetting and sanitization beyond ordinary browser-level sanitization. Apply an appropriate validation and sanitization policy before rendering with any library; a renderer’s ability to accept HTML does not make arbitrary markup safe.
Troubleshoot common failures
- Class not found: Confirm
composer require dompdf/dompdfcompleted, the application includes the correctvendor/autoload.php, and the deployed files include Composer dependencies. - Missing extension or dependency errors: Compare the server’s PHP version and enabled extensions with the requirements for the precise library release, then install the missing dependency or choose a compatible release. Dompdf’s repository lists DOM, php-font-lib, and php-svg-lib, with MBString and GD relevant to processing support.
- Remote image or stylesheet is absent: Remote fetching is disabled by default in Dompdf. If it is genuinely required, configure
isRemoteEnabled, ensure cURL orallow_url_fopenis available, and check the resource restrictions and URL accessibility. - Layout differs from the browser: The renderer implements bounded HTML/CSS support rather than guaranteeing browser equivalence. Simplify unsupported layout features, use print-focused CSS, and check the selected engine’s documentation for the behavior your document depends on.
- PDF download is corrupt or shows PHP output: Check for warnings, debug output, or whitespace emitted before the PDF response. Keep the response dedicated to the PDF, or use
output()and handle the returned bytes directly. - PDF cannot be saved: Check that the target directory exists and is writable by the PHP process, and handle filesystem errors rather than assuming the write succeeded.
Or skip the browser setup
If the task is to capture a rendered web page as a PDF rather than generate a PDF inside your PHP application, ScreenshotNeo offers a screenshot API and MCP server. A request can return a PDF; it is a different approach from a PHP renderer, so use the PHP method above when your application needs to construct its own document.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.pdfSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the PDF request options and account setup. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Dompdf to convert a complete HTML file?
Yes. Read or generate the file’s HTML in PHP and pass the markup to loadHtml(); ensure any referenced resources are accessible under the renderer’s configuration and restrictions.
Does Dompdf render every CSS feature supported by Chrome?
No. Its documented support is mostly CSS 2.1 with selected CSS3 behavior, not a promise of full modern browser compatibility.
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