Getting started with React PDF Viewer

17 Jul 20261 minute to read

If you’re starting to integrate the React PDF Viewer into your application, choose the path below that matches how you’ll run the viewer in your app (client-only or via a web service) and follow the linked tutorial.

Choose your setup

  • Standalone — Run the viewer entirely in the browser (no dedicated PDF processing service). This mode delivers excellent runtime performance and responsiveness because rendering and interaction happen on the client; it is ideal for quick prototyping and simple integrations. Choose this path when documents are not sensitive, sizes are moderate, and you do not need shared server-side processing.

  • Server-backed — Use a web service to perform PDF Viewer operations (rendering, document processing, or streaming). Choose this path when you need server-side processing for PDF Viewer operations, larger documents, or multi-user scenarios.

  • Standalone tutorial
  • Server-backed tutorial

See also