Top JavaScript PDF Viewer Libraries

embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer is a lightweight JavaScript library for embedding PDF viewers in web pages.

Code Example

import { EmbedPdfViewer } from 'embed-pdf-viewer';

const viewer = new EmbedPdfViewer('#container', 'path/to/document.pdf');
viewer.render();

Pros

• Simpler and more focused than gjTool/pdfh5, specifically designed for PDF embedding
• Lighter weight and easier to integrate than ollm/OpenComic, which is a full comic reader application
• More actively maintained and updated compared to the other projects

Cons

• Less feature-rich than gjTool/pdfh5, which offers more advanced PDF manipulation options
• Lacks the comic-specific features provided by ollm/OpenComic
• May have a smaller community and less documentation compared to more established PDF libraries

OpenComic is an open-source comic book reader application for desktop platforms.

Pros of ollm/OpenComic

• Specifically designed for comic book reading, offering a tailored experience compared to general PDF viewers like embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer and gjTool/pdfh5.
• Supports multiple comic book formats (CBZ, CBR, PDF) unlike embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer which focuses solely on PDFs.
• Provides a desktop application, offering better performance and offline capabilities compared to web-based solutions like gjTool/pdfh5.

Cons of ollm/OpenComic

• Limited to desktop platforms, lacking the cross-platform accessibility of web-based solutions like embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer and gjTool/pdfh5.
• May have a steeper learning curve for users accustomed to simple PDF viewers, as it includes comic-specific features.
• Requires installation, unlike web-based solutions that can be instantly accessed through a browser.

gjTool/pdfh5 is a lightweight JavaScript library for rendering PDF files in HTML5 without plugins.

Code Example

var pdfh5 = new Pdfh5('#demo', {
  pdfurl: 'path/to/your/pdf.pdf'
});

Pros

• Offers a more comprehensive set of features for PDF manipulation compared to embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer
• Provides better performance and smoother rendering than ollm/OpenComic for PDF files
• Includes built-in UI controls and customization options, unlike embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer

Cons

• May have a steeper learning curve compared to the simpler embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer
• Lacks comic-specific features found in ollm/OpenComic, such as panel detection or comic-oriented UI
• Potentially larger file size and resource usage compared to the lightweight embedpdf/embed-pdf-viewer