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5 Essential Features to Look for in a PDF Viewer Library

How to choose the right PDF viewer library for your application’s needs.

When integrating document handling into applications, selecting a PDF viewer library with flexible, customizable, and high-performance features is essential.

With so many options available, though, it can be hard to figure out which library best suits your needs. In this post, we’ll explore five essential features you should look for when selecting a PDF viewer library for your project or application. From robust navigation and search capabilities to advanced annotation tools, these key characteristics will help you find a solution that works for you and your needs.

Let’s get started!

1. Flexibility in Platforms and Formats

The ideal PDF viewer library should support multiple document formats, including legacy ones, and work seamlessly across various platforms — Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and both client and server environments.

First of all, multi-format support is essential for a PDF viewer library because it allows users to work with a broader range of document types without converting files. In many industries, especially those with extensive archives (like legal, healthcare, or finance), legacy document formats — such as older versions of PDFs, TIFFs, or even DOC files — are still in use. Converting documents is just not a practical option here, especially since formatting might not transfer over perfectly.

At the same time, multi-platform compatibility enables a flexible, uninterrupted workflow whether in the office, on mobile, or working remotely. Together, these capabilities allow professionals to work efficiently with complex, large documents anytime, anywhere, without compatibility barriers.

For example, Apryse is an all-in-one native document toolkit with a Core SDK that supports over 160 file formats, including video and CAD, and functions natively across multiple platforms (offering SDKs for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and both server and client). Its embeddable WebViewer component offers an extensive document featureset natively to any app without compromising on flexibility, and without any third-party dependencies​.

💡 When assessing open-source versus proprietary SDKs, consider that proprietary, commercial solutions have the added benefit of optimized rendering, not a guarantee for open-source options​.

2. Customizable UI for Branding

Brand consistency matters. Imagine building an enterprise document viewer for an international retail company where the interface must look on-brand and cater to users worldwide. Out-of-the-box UI might be serviceable, certainly, but fall short in reflecting the company’s image.

💡 When it comes to branding, you do not want to give the appearance of being ‘designed by developers’.

A well-chosen PDF library should ideally come with some sort of a Viewer component that allows for a highly customizable UI, giving full control over interface elements — fonts, colors, and logos — and supporting RTL and multiple languages (i18n) to reflect a company’s brand the way they want to be perceived.

With such a customizable viewer, you can create a cohesive look aligned with the brand, and tailor experiences for multilingual teams.

3. User-Friendly Navigation for Large Documents

In applications that manage complex, multi-page documents (research papers, technical manuals, reports, and more), users can’t afford to waste time scrolling to find specific sections. Instead, what they‘ll need is a viewing experience that lets them jump directly to key parts, making navigation faster and more intuitive.

Efficient navigation features — being able to easily (and natively) add bookmarks and an interactive table of contents to your PDFs — are vital.

These navigation aids save time and improve usability, aligning with the needs of organizations that frequently work with dense, information-rich documents​.

💡 Adding bookmarks and a table of contents not only makes large documents easier to navigate but can also reduce load times for specific sections, as many PDF viewers only render the visible portion of a document. This means faster access to critical information, especially in documents with hundreds of pages!

4. Advanced Search and Data Extraction

For data analysis systems that handle hundreds of reports, basic search is almost always going to be slow or inaccurate, creating bottlenecks in extracting relevant insights. Advanced search functionality should empower users to quickly find specific terms with high precision, supporting wildcard and regex searches for pinpointing exact data efficiently.

Another side of the same coin is the ability to extract text, images, data, embedded fonts and more from documents in a way that doesn’t destroy context of data — enabling integration with databases or AI tools which require clean, structured data to begin with.

💡 Extracting embedded fonts and text from PDFs makes it possible to reflow it later, making it adaptable to different screen sizes or formats. This means documents can be automatically adjusted for better readability on various devices, improving user experience in mobile apps, or just for responsive web design.

Apryse’s SDK, for example, combines powerful search and extraction capabilities, supporting deep text and image retrieval, making it effortless to integrate with databases or analytics tools and streamline data retrieval in high-volume document workflows.

5. Security and Access Control

Data security is paramount in document handling, especially in regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government. For instance, in a healthcare application handling sensitive patient records, robust document security is non-negotiable. Inadequate control over permissions can lead to unauthorized access, risking compliance breaches.

A PDF viewer library should support password protection, encryption, and customizable permissions to control access levels across various user roles.

💡 Customizable permissions can not only prevent unauthorized access but also reduce the risk of accidental data leaks. Encryption can protect PDF files both at rest and in transit, ensuring that even if a document is intercepted, its contents remain secure. Both are especially important for industries handling highly sensitive data, like healthcare and finance, where document integrity is crucial for compliance.

Apryse offers fine-grained control over document permissions, allowing admins to designate who can view, annotate, edit, or print files.

This ensures only authorized personnel access sensitive data, fostering secure document collaboration and compliance with industry standards​.

Conclusion

Whether you’re managing large documents with advanced search and navigation needs, ensuring data security and compliance, or enabling seamless integration across platforms, these five essential features — multi-format support, multi-platform compatibility, user-friendly navigation, advanced search and data extraction, and robust security — are fundamental to delivering an exceptional user experience.

Apryse’s SDK exemplifies these core capabilities, making it a reliable choice for developers building high-performance document applications.

By prioritizing these features, you can ensure that your PDF viewer library meets the demands of your users, and aligns with the high standards of modern document workflows.