Generate PDFs from React Apps Using an API

If you’re building a React application and want to allow users to easily export reports, invoices, dashboards or any page content as a PDF — you’ve come to the right place. This blog shows how to integrate the PageSnap.co API into your React stack, and why this is beneficial.

Why use an API for PDF generation in React apps?

• React apps often generate dynamic UI (charts, tables, dashboards) that users want to download or share.
• Building and maintaining your own HTML-to-PDF pipeline (headless browser, print rendering quirks) takes time and maintenance.
• With PageSnap.co you offload that complexity: you send content to the API, it returns a PDF (or pushes to S3) — you keep the front-end fast.
• It supports both single and batch processing — scalable for one-off exports or bulk generation.
• Plus advanced options to fine-tune layout: margins, orientation, header/footer, injection of CSS/JS, image toggles etc.

How PageSnap.co works — in under 5 minutes

1. Sign up at PageSnap.co and generate your API credentials.
2. From a backend (recommended) you make a POST to https://api.pagesnap.co/snap with Basic Auth.
3. You include in the body:
   • sandbox: true for test mode (with watermark) or false for production.
   • contents object: one or more of urls, htmls, templates (max 200 items per batch).
   • Optional: webhook_url for batch jobs so you get notified when PDFs are ready.
   • Optional: s3_path_url if you want the PDF saved directly into your AWS S3 bucket.
4. You get a direct response (for single requests) with PDF download link(s). For batch, you await the webhook.
5. Deliver the link to your React app or move the file to your own storage and provide it to the user.

Integrating into a React-based workflow

• Keep API keys on the backend: your React front-end triggers an internal endpoint (e.g., /api/exportPdf) which your server invokes the PageSnap API.
• Use hyperlink or button in React UI like “Download as PDF” to trigger the backend call.
• Example flow:
  • User clicks export → React sends POST to your backend.
  • Backend calls PageSnap.co with contents referencing the target URL or HTML snippet.
  • Backend returns the PDF link; React opens it or triggers download.
• Batch export: If your React app needs to generate multiple PDFs (for example all invoices for a month), submit a batch request with webhook_url, then handle webhook in your backend to notify users when ready.

Key options for print-perfect PDFs

Here are some standout options from PageSnap.co you’ll want to use:

• set_java_script_enabled: disable/enable JS execution during PDF capture.
• disable_images: skip images to optimise speed/size.
• print_background: include background styles or skip them.
• format (e.g., “A4”, “Letter”), landscape (true/false).
• margin_top, margin_bottom, margin_left, margin_right to control page whitespace.
• header_template, footer_template when display_header_footer=true — useful for page numbers, document title, date.

Final thoughts

Integrating PDF export into your React app doesn’t need to be complicated. With PageSnap.co you get:

• Single-call PDF generation (URL/HTML/template)
• Batch export support with webhooks
• Direct S3 delivery if required
• 30+ custom options for quality control
• Backend-friendly integration (keep keys safe)

Start with sandbox mode for free (watermarked PDFs) to test your setup — then switch to production. Use your front-end React interface to provide a seamless “Export to PDF” experience.