XML Worker vs. html2pdf: Which Should You Use? Choosing the right tool to convert HTML into PDF documents depends on your tech stack, budget, and specific project needs. Two popular options for this task are XML Worker (an iText add-on) and html2pdf.
Here is a direct comparison to help you choose the best library for your workflow. The Core Difference
The fundamental difference lies in their language ecosystems and underlying engines.
XML Worker: A Java-based library designed as an extension for iText (specifically iText 5). It parses HTML and CSS into iText objects.
html2pdf: A JavaScript-based library that runs in the browser or Node.js. It converts HTML into a canvas image using html2canvas and wraps it into a PDF using jsPDF. Feature Comparison 1. CSS and Layout Support
XML Worker: Supports basic CSS and HTML. It struggles with modern CSS layouts like Flexbox, Grid, and complex bootstrap designs. It requires strict, well-formed HTML (XHTML style).
html2pdf: Excellent CSS support. Because it leverages the browser’s rendering engine via canvas, it captures exactly what the user sees on the screen, including complex layouts and modern styles. 2. Text Searchability and Quality
XML Worker: Generates native PDF elements. Text remains fully searchable, selectable, and crisp at any zoom level. Document file sizes are typically small.
html2pdf: Converts the HTML page into an image before placing it in the PDF. This means text is generally not selectable or searchable. Files can also become large, and text may look blurry when zoomed in. 3. Execution Environment
XML Worker: Runs entirely on the server side (Java). Ideal for automated, backend document generation.
html2pdf: Runs primarily on the client side (browser). Ideal for giving users a “Print to PDF” button directly on a webpage without taxing server resources. 4. Licensing and Cost
XML Worker: Tied to iText licensing. While older versions are open-source (AGPL), modern enterprise use often requires a paid, commercial iText license.
html2pdf: Entirely free and open-source under the MIT license. You can use it freely in commercial projects. Summary: Which Should You Choose? Use XML Worker if: You are already working within a Java backend environment.
You need searchable text, small file sizes, and multi-page data tables.
You can control and simplify the HTML/CSS structure to match what the parser supports. Use html2pdf if: You need a quick, frontend JavaScript solution.
Your layout relies heavily on modern CSS (Flexbox, custom fonts, complex dashboards).
Text searchability inside the final PDF is not a priority for your users.
To help narrow down the best solution for your project, please let me know: What programming language is your backend using? Do your PDFs require selectable text and multi-page tables?
I can provide code snippets or alternative library recommendations based on your stack.
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