Pros of TCPDF

• More extensive documentation and examples
• Better support for complex layouts and advanced PDF features
• Wider range of supported image formats

Cons of TCPDF

• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
• Slower performance, especially for large documents
• Less active development and community support

Code Comparison

TCPDF:

$pdf = new TCPDF(PDF_PAGE_ORIENTATION, PDF_UNIT, PDF_PAGE_FORMAT, true, 'UTF-8', false);
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', '', 12);
$pdf->Cell(0, 10, 'Hello World!', 0, 1, 'C');
$pdf->Output('example.pdf', 'F');

mPDF:

$mpdf = new \Mpdf\Mpdf();
$mpdf->WriteHTML('<h1>Hello World!</h1>');
$mpdf->Output('example.pdf', 'F');

TCPDF offers more granular control over PDF creation, while mPDF provides a simpler API for basic tasks. TCPDF requires more code for the same output, but offers greater flexibility for complex layouts. mPDF's HTML-based approach is more intuitive for web developers, making it easier to generate PDFs from existing HTML content.

Pros of dompdf

• Simpler setup and usage, especially for basic PDF generation
• Better support for CSS3 and HTML5 features
• Lighter weight and potentially faster for simple documents

Cons of dompdf

• Less robust handling of complex layouts and large documents
• Limited support for advanced PDF features like forms and digital signatures
• May struggle with certain non-Latin character sets and right-to-left languages

Code Comparison

dompdf example:

require_once 'dompdf/autoload.inc.php';
$dompdf = new Dompdf();
$dompdf->loadHtml('<h1>Hello, World!</h1>');
$dompdf->render();
$dompdf->stream("document.pdf");

mpdf example:

require_once __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
$mpdf = new \Mpdf\Mpdf();
$mpdf->WriteHTML('<h1>Hello, World!</h1>');
$mpdf->Output("document.pdf", "D");

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to generate PDFs from HTML, but mpdf generally provides more advanced features and better handling of complex documents at the cost of a steeper learning curve and potentially slower performance for simple tasks.

Pros of PHPWord

• Supports creation and editing of Word documents (.docx, .doc, .odt)
• Offers more advanced formatting options for text, tables, and images
• Provides better integration with Microsoft Office suite

Cons of PHPWord

• Larger library size and potentially higher memory usage
• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
• Limited PDF generation capabilities compared to MPDF

Code Comparison

MPDF:

$mpdf = new \Mpdf\Mpdf();
$mpdf->WriteHTML('<h1>Hello World</h1>');
$mpdf->Output('document.pdf', 'F');

PHPWord:

$phpWord = new \PhpOffice\PhpWord\PhpWord();
$section = $phpWord->addSection();
$section->addText('Hello World', ['size' => 16, 'bold' => true]);
$writer = \PhpOffice\PhpWord\IOFactory::createWriter($phpWord, 'Word2007');
$writer->save('document.docx');

MPDF is focused on HTML-to-PDF conversion, making it simpler for PDF generation from HTML content. PHPWord offers more flexibility in creating and manipulating Word documents programmatically but requires more code for basic tasks. MPDF is generally easier to use for PDF creation, while PHPWord excels in Word document manipulation and advanced formatting options.

Pros of laravel-dompdf

• Seamless integration with Laravel framework
• Utilizes the popular DomPDF library, which has good HTML/CSS support
• Lightweight and easy to set up in Laravel projects

Cons of laravel-dompdf

• Limited support for complex layouts and advanced CSS features
• May have performance issues with large documents or heavy styling
• Less actively maintained compared to mpdf

Code Comparison

laravel-dompdf:

use Barryvdh\DomPDF\Facade\Pdf;

$pdf = Pdf::loadView('pdf.invoice', $data);
return $pdf->download('invoice.pdf');

mpdf:

$mpdf = new \Mpdf\Mpdf();
$html = view('pdf.invoice', $data)->render();
$mpdf->WriteHTML($html);
$mpdf->Output('invoice.pdf', 'D');

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to generate PDFs from HTML, but laravel-dompdf provides a more Laravel-specific implementation with its facade. mpdf, on the other hand, offers a more flexible approach that can be easily integrated into various PHP projects.

While laravel-dompdf excels in Laravel environments, mpdf generally provides better support for complex layouts and advanced features. The choice between the two depends on the specific project requirements, with laravel-dompdf being ideal for simpler Laravel-based PDF generation tasks, and mpdf offering more robust capabilities for complex PDF needs across different PHP applications.

Pros of phpwkhtmltopdf

• Utilizes wkhtmltopdf, which offers better HTML and CSS rendering
• Supports JavaScript execution in PDF generation
• Generally faster for complex layouts and large documents

Cons of phpwkhtmltopdf

• Requires external wkhtmltopdf binary installation
• Limited font embedding options compared to mpdf
• May have compatibility issues with some server environments

Code Comparison

mpdf:

$mpdf = new \Mpdf\Mpdf();
$mpdf->WriteHTML($html);
$mpdf->Output('document.pdf', 'D');

phpwkhtmltopdf:

$pdf = new Pdf($html);
if (!$pdf->send()) {
    $error = $pdf->getError();
}

Both libraries offer straightforward PDF generation from HTML, but phpwkhtmltopdf relies on an external binary for rendering. mpdf is a pure PHP solution, which can be advantageous in certain environments. phpwkhtmltopdf excels in rendering complex layouts and supporting JavaScript, while mpdf provides better control over font embedding and doesn't require additional software installation. The choice between the two depends on specific project requirements, server constraints, and desired output quality.