How to Embed PDFs in HTML: Native Tags vs. Syncfusion JavaScript PDF Viewer

As a developer, you’ve probably struggled to embed PDFs in HTML; native tags seem easy, but they often fail to deliver consistent rendering or interactive features across browsers.

Struggling with messy displays and poor mobile support? Syncfusion^® JavaScript PDF Viewer changes the game with annotations, form filling, and seamless cross-platform performance.

This guide explores native HTML methods versus Syncfusion’s solution to help you choose the best approach for your web apps.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• How native HTML methods work for embedding PDFs in HTML.
• Their advantages and disadvantages from a developer’s perspective.
• Why Syncfusion^® JavaScript PDF Viewer is ideal for modern, scalable web applications.

Let’s find the perfect solution for your project’s PDF needs!

Native HTML methods for embedding PDFs in HTML

Method 1: Using the <embed> tag

The <embed> tag in HTML is used to incorporate external content such as multimedia (videos, audio, PDFs) or interactive applications like Flash or SVG directly into a webpage.

<embed src="gis-succinctly.pdf" type="application/pdf" height="650px" width="100%">

Advantages:

• Minimal setup: Quick to implement with just a single line, perfect for rapid prototyping.
• Inline rendering: Displays the PDF directly within the page, offering a seamless experience for simple documents.

Disadvantages:

• No fallback support: If the browser doesn’t support PDF rendering, users won’t see any alternative content.
• Inconsistent behavior: Rendering may vary across browsers, leading to unpredictable results.
• Limited functionality: No built-in tools for search, annotation, or navigation.

When to use:

Use <embed> for fast, inline PDF display in environments where browser compatibility is controlled and advanced features are not required.

Method 2: Using the <iframe> tag

The <iframe> tag embeds another HTML document within the current page, effectively creating a window to external content.

<iframe src="gis-succinctly.pdf" width="100%" height="650px"></iframe>

Advantages:

• Simple external embedding: Easily integrates PDFs hosted on other servers.
• Styling flexibility: The iframe container can be styled using CSS for layout control.

Disadvantages:

• No native PDF controls: Users can only view the document; no search or navigation tools are available.
• Security concerns: Embedding from external domains may trigger cross-origin restrictions or browser warnings.
• Accessibility limitations: Limited support for screen readers and other accessibility tools.

When to use:

Use iframe for embedding PDFs in HTML when you need to display externally hosted documents and prioritize layout flexibility over interactivity.

Method 3: Using the <object> tag

The <object> tag is a versatile HTML element used to embed various types of external resources, such as images, videos, PDFs, or even entire web pages, into a webpage. It supports fallback content and offers better integration with diverse media formats.

<object data="gis-succinctly.pdf" type="application/pdf" width="100%" height="650px"></object>

Advantages:

• Native HTML support: No need for external libraries or scripts.
• Fallback capability: Allows developers to provide alternative content if the PDF fails to load.

Disadvantages:

• Limited interactivity: No support for search, annotation, or zoom.
• Browser-dependent rendering: Behavior and controls vary across browsers.
• Poor mobile responsiveness: Layout may not adapt well to smaller screens.

When to use:

Use the <object> tag when you need a simple, no-frills way to embed a PDF and want to provide fallback content for older or unsupported browsers. It’s best suited for static documents where interactivity is not a priority.

Method 4: Combining <object> + <iframe>

To ensure maximum compatibility across browsers, you can nest an <iframe> inside an <object> tag. This technique provides a graceful fallback: if the browser fails to render the PDF using <object>, it will automatically try to load it using <iframe>. This approach works without JavaScript and improves reliability for users on older or less capable browsers.

<object
    data="gis-succinctly.pdf"
    type="application/pdf"
    width="100%"
    height="100%">

    <iframe
        src="gis-succinctly.pdf"
        width="100%"
        height="100%"
        style="border: none;">
    </iframe>
</object>

Advantages:

• Enhanced compatibility: Increases the likelihood of successful rendering across different browsers and devices.
• Flexible fallback: Supports multiple fallback options, such as download links or alternative viewers.
• No external dependencies: Relies solely on native HTML.

Disadvantages:

• No advanced features: Still lacks support for annotations, search, or form filling.
• Potential performance issues: Some browsers may attempt to load both elements simultaneously.
• Limited UI control: Cannot customize the viewer interface or restrict actions like download or print.

When to use:

Use the <object> + <iframe> combination when:

• You want to maximize compatibility across browsers without using JavaScript-based viewers.
• You need a fallback mechanism for older or less capable browsers.
• Your use case involves simple document viewing without interactivity.

Syncfusion^® JavaScript PDF Viewer: A developer’s power tool to embed PDFs in HTML

The  Syncfusion^® JavaScript PDF Viewer is a robust and feature-rich component designed for embedding and interacting with PDF documents directly within web applications. Part of the Essential JS 2 (EJ2) suite, it integrates seamlessly with popular frameworks like Angular, React, Vue, ASP.NET Core, and MVC, making it ideal for scalable, enterprise-grade solutions.

Whether you’re building a customer portal, e-learning platform, legal document system, or healthcare dashboard, Syncfusion’s viewer provides flexibility and control developers need to deliver a polished, interactive PDF experience.

Note: Explore the full potential of Syncfusion’s PDF Viewer with the live demo and get detailed guidance on initialization and configuration from the official documentation.

Here’s a basic example of how to embed a PDF using Syncfusion’s JavaScript PDF Viewer:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
  <head>
      <title> Embed PDF using JavaScript PDF Viewer </title>
      <!-- Essential JS 2 PDF Viewer's script -->
      <script src="https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/30.1.37/dist/ej2.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
      <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/30.1.37/material.css">
      <script src="https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/syncfusion-helper.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
  </head>
  <body>
      <!--element which is going to render-->
      <div id="container">
          <div id="PdfViewer" style="height:650px;width:100%;"></div>
      </div>
      <script>
          //Initialize PDF Viewer component
          var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer({
              documentPath: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/gis-succinctly.pdf',
              resourceUrl: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/30.1.37/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib'
          });
          //PDF Viewer control rendering starts
          pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
      </script>
  </body>
</html>

Key features for developers

1. Feature-rich viewer

• Built-in toolbar with tools for zoom, search, print, and page navigation.
• Support for fillable PDF forms, enabling user input directly in the viewer.
• Text selection and copying for easy content extraction.
• Annotation tools, including highlight, underline, strikeout, and notes, plus page organization features like rotate, copy, or delete, are ideal for custom document workflows.

2. Customizable UI

• Adapt the viewer’s appearance to match your app’s design.
• Theme support for Material 3, Bootstrap 5, Fluent 2, Tailwind CSS, and high-contrast modes, ensuring seamless integration with modern frameworks.

3. Security controls

• Disable download or print options for sensitive documents.
• Support for encrypted PDFs and password protection.
• No reliance on browser plugins, reducing security risks.

4. Performance optimization

• Efficient handling of large PDFs with lazy loading and virtual scrolling.
• Smooth performance across devices for a responsive user experience.

5. Cross-browser consistency

• Reliable rendering on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and mobile browsers.
• Eliminates browser-specific quirks, unlike native HTML PDF embed methods

6. Accessibility support

• Keyboard navigation and WCAG-compliant design for inclusive access.
• Screen reader compatibility for broader usability.

Real-world use cases:

• Healthcare systems: Display patient records securely with restricted download/print options and form-filling for consent forms.
• Legal platforms: Enable annotations and page organization for contract reviews and case documentation.
• E-Learning platforms: Provide interactive course materials with search, highlight, and responsive design for mobile learners.
• Customer portals: Allow users to view invoices, policies, or statements with secure access and consistent rendering.
• Real estate & insurance apps: Embed property documents or claim forms with annotation and form support.

Comparison table

Emoji key

• ✅ Fully Supported
• ❌ Not Supported
• ⚠️ Partially Supported / Limited

Decision checklist: Which PDF method should you use?

Conclusion

Choosing the right method to display PDFs in your web application depends on your project’s complexity and user expectations.

If your needs are limited to basic, static PDF viewing, such as embedding a read-only document native HTML tags like <embed>, <iframe>, <object>, or a combination of <object> + <iframe> offers a quick and simple solution. However, these methods lack interactivity, customization, and consistent behavior across browsers and devices.

For applications that demand a more advanced, interactive, and secure PDF experience, the  Syncfusion^® JavaScript PDF Viewer is a purpose-built solution that delivers enterprise-grade functionality.

The new version is available for current customers to download from the license and downloads page. If you are not a Syncfusion^® customer, you can try our 30-day free trial for our newest features.

You can also contact us through our support forums, support portal, or feedback portal. We are always happy to assist you!

Related Blogs

How to Automate Invoices in C# with HTML to PDF Conversion

9 min read

How To Securely Convert HTML To PDF In .NET Using Syncfusion

11 min read

Generate Dynamic PDF Reports from an HTML Template Using C#

7 min read

Convert HTML to PDF in C# – A Complete Guide

24 min read