How to Use vue-pdf-embed to Display PDFs in Vue 3

Displaying PDFs in your Vue 3 application is simple and efficient with vue pdf tools like vue-pdf-embed. This lightweight component allows you to render PDF files directly in your app without requiring third-party PDF readers. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use vue-pdf-embed to set up a responsive and functional vue pdf viewer in minutes.

Why Use vue-pdf-embed?

vue-pdf-embed is a modern PDF viewer component designed for Vue 3. Unlike heavy solutions, it’s optimized for performance and works smoothly on both desktop and mobile devices. Using it as your vue pdf solution means you can offer users features like page navigation, zoom controls, and responsive layouts without complex configurations.

Step 1: Install vue-pdf-embed

First, add the package to your Vue 3 project using npm or yarn. Installing vue-pdf-embed provides all the necessary dependencies for your vue pdf functionality.

bashCopyEditnpm install vue-pdf-embed

Step 2: Import the Component

Once installed, import vue-pdf-embed into the component where you want to display your PDF. This makes the vue pdf viewer available for use.

javascriptCopyEditimport VuePdfEmbed from 'vue-pdf-embed'

Step 3: Provide the PDF Source

You can display PDFs from either local files or external URLs. Assign the file source to a variable and bind it to the component. This is the core step in using vue pdf to render your document.

vueCopyEdit<VuePdfEmbed :source="pdfSource" />

Step 4: Add Basic Controls

vue-pdf-embed lets you implement controls like next/previous page navigation, zoom in/out, and scaling to fit. These options make your vue pdf viewer more interactive and user-friendly.

Step 5: Make It Responsive

To ensure your vue pdf viewer looks good across all devices, use responsive styling. Avoid fixed dimensions; instead, use flexible widths and heights so the viewer adapts to different screen sizes.

Step 6: Optimize for Performance

Large PDFs can slow down loading times. For optimal vue pdf performance:

• Compress your PDF files before embedding.
• Enable lazy loading to load pages as users scroll.
• Cache frequently accessed documents for faster display.

Step 7: Test on Multiple Devices

Finally, test your vue pdf viewer on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. Check that navigation works smoothly, scaling is correct, and PDFs load quickly.

Conclusion

Using vue-pdf-embed in Vue 3 is an easy and effective way to integrate vue pdf functionality into your project. By installing the package, importing the component, providing the PDF source, adding controls, ensuring responsiveness, and optimizing performance, you can deliver a professional, seamless PDF viewing experience. Whether you’re building a document portal, an online manual, or an educational platform, vue pdf with vue-pdf-embed offers the perfect balance of simplicity and power.