Generating PDFs in Node.js: A Step-by-Step Guide with Example and Unit Tests

Introduction

Creating PDF documents dynamically is a common requirement in modern web applications. Node.js, with its vast ecosystem of libraries, makes this task manageable and efficient. This article will guide you through generating PDFs in Node.js, complete with an example and unit testing.

Prerequisites

Before starting, you’ll need the following:

• Node.js: Ensure Node.js is installed on your system. You can download it from the official website.
• Text Editor: Any text editor or IDE for writing JavaScript, such as Visual Studio Code.
• PDF Library: We’ll use puppeteer, a Node library that provides a high-level API to control headless Chrome or Chromium.
• Testing Tools: Jest for unit testing.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Project

Create a new directory for your project and navigate into it:

mkdir pdf-generator
cd pdf-generator

Initialize a new Node.js project:

npm init -y

Install Puppeteer:

npm install puppeteer

Install Jest for unit testing:

npm install jest --save-dev

Step 2: Writing the PDF Generation Code