Top PDF Viewer Libraries

SumatraPDF is a free, open-source PDF, eBook, XPS, DjVu, CHM, and Comic Book reader for Windows.

Pros

• Lightweight and fast performance compared to many other PDF readers
• Supports a wide range of document formats beyond just PDFs
• Simple and clean user interface with minimal distractions

Cons

• Limited annotation and editing features compared to more advanced tools like Xournal++
• Lacks cross-platform support, being Windows-only unlike some alternatives
• No built-in cloud integration or collaboration features found in solutions like ONLYOFFICE DocumentServer

Note: As SumatraPDF is a standalone application and not a code library, a code example is not applicable in this case.

Xournal++ is an open-source note-taking software with PDF annotation capabilities, designed as a more feature-rich alternative to Xournal.

Pros

• Offers a comprehensive set of note-taking and PDF annotation tools, unlike some of the simpler PDF viewers in the list.
• Provides a native desktop application for Linux, Windows, and macOS, offering better performance than web-based solutions.
• Supports pressure-sensitive input for stylus users, which is not available in many other PDF viewers.

Cons

• Lacks mobile support, unlike some projects like AndroidPdfViewer or react-pdf-viewer.
• May have a steeper learning curve compared to simpler PDF viewers like SumatraPDF.
• Does not offer collaborative editing features found in some alternatives like ONLYOFFICE/DocumentServer.

wojtekmaj/react-pdf is a React component library for rendering PDF files in web applications.

Code Example

import { Document, Page } from 'react-pdf';
<Document file="sample.pdf">
  <Page pageNumber={1} />
</Document>

Pros

• Specifically designed for React applications, offering seamless integration with React components
• Provides a high level of customization and control over PDF rendering
• Supports both client-side and server-side rendering

Cons

• Limited to React applications, unlike more versatile PDF viewers like SumatraPDF or Xournal++
• May have a steeper learning curve compared to simpler PDF viewing solutions
• Lacks advanced annotation features found in some other PDF tools

DImuthuUpe/AndroidPdfViewer is an Android library for rendering and displaying PDF files with a focus on smooth scrolling and zooming.

Code Example

PDFView pdfView = findViewById(R.id.pdfView);
pdfView.fromAsset("sample.pdf")
       .load();

Pros

• Specifically designed for Android, offering native performance and integration
• Provides smooth scrolling and zooming capabilities for PDF documents
• Supports both vertical and horizontal scrolling modes

Cons

• Limited to Android platform, unlike cross-platform solutions like react-pdf or vue-pdf
• May have fewer advanced features compared to full-fledged PDF readers like Sumatra PDF
• Lacks annotation and editing capabilities found in some other projects like Xournal++

ahrm/sioyek is a PDF viewer designed for reading research papers and technical documents, with features tailored for academic and scientific literature.

Pros

• Specialized features for academic reading, such as synctex support and reference jumping
• Fast and lightweight compared to more complex document viewers
• Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Cons

• Limited to PDF format, unlike some multi-format viewers or office suites
• Lacks advanced annotation tools found in some competitors like Xournal++
• Not web-based or easily embeddable in other applications, unlike some PDF libraries