Pros of dompdf

• Easier to use for converting HTML/CSS to PDF
• Better support for modern CSS features
• More actively maintained with frequent updates

Cons of dompdf

• Slower performance for large documents
• Less extensive feature set compared to TCPDF
• May have compatibility issues with complex layouts

Code Comparison

dompdf:

require_once 'dompdf/autoload.inc.php';
$dompdf = new Dompdf();
$dompdf->loadHtml($html);
$dompdf->render();
$dompdf->stream("document.pdf");

TCPDF:

require_once('tcpdf/tcpdf.php');
$pdf = new TCPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->writeHTML($html);
$pdf->Output('document.pdf', 'I');

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to generate PDFs from HTML, but dompdf's approach is slightly more concise. TCPDF provides more granular control over the PDF creation process, which can be beneficial for complex documents but may require more code for simple tasks.

dompdf is generally easier to use for basic HTML-to-PDF conversion, while TCPDF offers more advanced features and better performance for large documents. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of your project, such as document complexity, performance needs, and desired CSS support.

Pros of mpdf

• Better support for CSS and HTML5, allowing for easier styling and layout
• Faster rendering speed, especially for complex documents
• More active development and community support

Cons of mpdf

• Larger file size and memory footprint
• Less extensive documentation compared to TCPDF
• Fewer built-in features for advanced PDF manipulation

Code Comparison

mpdf:

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

TCPDF:

$pdf = new TCPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', '', 12);
$pdf->Cell(0, 10, 'Hello World', 0, 1);
$pdf->Output('document.pdf', 'F');

Both libraries offer PHP-based PDF generation, but mpdf focuses on HTML-to-PDF conversion, while TCPDF provides more low-level PDF creation methods. mpdf's approach is generally more intuitive for web developers familiar with HTML and CSS, while TCPDF offers finer control over PDF elements and structure.

Pros of PHPWord

• Specialized for creating and manipulating Word documents
• Supports a wider range of Word-specific features and formatting options
• More intuitive API for working with Word document structures

Cons of PHPWord

• Limited to Word document generation, less versatile than TCPDF
• May have a steeper learning curve for users familiar with PDF-centric libraries
• Potentially slower performance when dealing with large documents

Code Comparison

PHPWord:

$phpWord = new \PhpOffice\PhpWord\PhpWord();
$section = $phpWord->addSection();
$section->addText('Hello World!');
$writer = \PhpOffice\PhpWord\IOFactory::createWriter($phpWord, 'Word2007');
$writer->save('helloWorld.docx');

TCPDF:

$pdf = new TCPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', '', 12);
$pdf->Cell(0, 10, 'Hello World!');
$pdf->Output('helloWorld.pdf', 'F');

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to create documents, but PHPWord is tailored for Word documents, while TCPDF focuses on PDF generation. PHPWord provides more Word-specific features, while TCPDF offers greater flexibility for creating various types of PDF documents.

Pros of laravel-dompdf

• Seamless integration with Laravel framework
• Easy to use with Laravel's Facade system
• Supports HTML5 and CSS3 for more modern styling options

Cons of laravel-dompdf

• Limited support for complex layouts and advanced PDF features
• May have performance issues with large or complex documents
• Less frequent updates compared to TCPDF

Code Comparison

laravel-dompdf:

use Barryvdh\DomPDF\Facade\Pdf;

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

TCPDF:

$pdf = new TCPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->writeHTML($html, true, false, true, false, '');
$pdf->Output('document.pdf', 'D');

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to generate PDFs, but laravel-dompdf provides a more Laravel-centric approach with its Facade. TCPDF offers more granular control over the PDF creation process, which can be beneficial for complex documents but may require more code for basic tasks.

Pros of phpwkhtmltopdf

• Renders HTML/CSS accurately, including complex layouts and modern web features
• Supports JavaScript execution, allowing dynamic content generation
• Faster PDF generation for complex documents with many elements

Cons of phpwkhtmltopdf

• Requires external dependencies (wkhtmltopdf binary)
• Less control over low-level PDF structure and metadata
• May have compatibility issues with some server environments

Code Comparison

TCPDF:

$pdf = new TCPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->writeHTML($html);
$pdf->Output('document.pdf', 'F');

phpwkhtmltopdf:

$pdf = new Pdf($html);
$pdf->saveAs('document.pdf');

TCPDF offers more granular control over PDF creation, while phpwkhtmltopdf provides a simpler API for converting HTML to PDF. TCPDF is better suited for generating PDFs from scratch or with precise layout requirements, whereas phpwkhtmltopdf excels at converting existing web pages or complex HTML/CSS layouts into PDFs with high fidelity.

Choose TCPDF for fine-grained control and server-side PDF generation without external dependencies. Opt for phpwkhtmltopdf when dealing with modern web layouts or when accurate HTML/CSS rendering is crucial.