In today’s digital-first world, generating PDF documents dynamically is a common requirement for developers building invoice systems, reports, certificates, or downloadable summaries. If you're working with PHP and MySQL, one powerful way to serve your users better is by enabling them to download multi-page PDFs generated directly from your database content.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the conceptual steps, best practices, and real-world use cases of generating multi-page PDFs using PHP and data fetched from a MySQL database.
Why Generate PDFs Dynamically? - 🔍
PDFs are universal. They retain formatting across all devices, are easy to print, and serve as professional deliverables. Whether you’re building:
. Invoice generators
. Product catalogs
. Report cards
. Employee summaries
. Order receipts
PDFs are an excellent choice for creating and distributing structured, formatted information.
Understanding the Core Workflow 🗃️
To generate a multi-page PDF from MySQL data using PHP, the high-level workflow looks like this:
. Connect to the MySQL Database – Use PHP to connect and query your database for the required data.
. Fetch and Process the Data – Organize the data logically, especially if it spans multiple pages.
. Use a PDF Library – Leverage libraries like TCPDF, FPDF, or DOMPDF to create and format the PDF.
. Handle Pagination – Programmatically create new pages when content exceeds a limit.
. Output or Download the PDF – Display it in the browser or offer it as a downloadable file.
Choosing the Right PDF Library - 🔧
Popular PHP libraries for PDF generation include:
Popular PHP libraries for PDF generation include:
TCPDF: A powerful, feature-rich library that supports Unicode, barcodes, and more.
. DOMPDF: Converts HTML/CSS to PDF – great for those who prefer HTML-based styling.
Your choice depends on your layout complexity, need for styling, and language support.
Handling Multi-Page Logic - 🛠️
. When generating multi-page PDFs, it’s crucial to:
. Use loops to add content dynamically.
. Insert page breaks when the current page’s data is full.
. Maintain headers, footers, or page numbers across pages.
Proper formatting ensures readability and a professional appearance.
Real-World Use Cases - 💼
. E-commerce sites: Generate downloadable invoices or order summaries.
. School management systems: Generate report cards and academic records.
. HR tools: Create employee salary slips or performance reports.
. Admin dashboards: Export analytics data and logs.
Conclusion
Creating multi-page PDFs using PHP and MySQL is a highly practical skill for web developers. With the right tools and a clear understanding of layout and logic, you can build dynamic PDF generators that enhance your application's functionality and user experience. At Hoopsiper, we love breaking down complex development tasks into clear, practical steps. Follow us for more hands-on tutorials, development insights, and real-world tech solutions—written and curated by - Shashank Shekhar, your guide in the coding world.