Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)
Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) is an open source PDF viewer that is built into Firefox. It allows you to view PDFs directly in the browser without needing an external plugin.
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Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js): Open Source PDF Browser Extension
Free and open source PDF viewer built into Firefox, allowing direct in-browser viewing of PDFs without an external plugin.
What is Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)?
Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) is an open source PDF viewer that is built into Firefox web browser. It was launched in 2012 as part of the Firefox web browser and allows users to view PDF documents directly within the browser, without needing any external PDF viewer plugins.
PDF.js uses HTML5canvas and JavaScript to parse and render PDF documents, eliminating the need for external plugins like Adobe Acrobat. It comes pre-installed in Firefox and can be enabled easily in the browser settings. The biggest benefit of PDF.js is that it allows PDF files to be viewed seamlessly without leaving the browser or interrupting the user's workflow.
As an open source tool, PDF.js is community-driven and constantly updated. It supports core functionalities like zooming, searching texts, printing PDFs etc. However, it may lack some advanced features like form filling compared to proprietary viewers. Overall, it provides a fast, secure, and free way to view PDFs for casual users.
PDF.js is best suited for general users who need basic PDF reading and annotation capabilities. The simple no-frills interface may not appeal to power users. It also performs slower while loading complex vector-based PDF documents. But for viewing average PDFs, PDF.js is an excellent built-in option that comes at no extra cost.
Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) Features
Features
- In-browser PDF viewer
- No browser plugins required
- Fast page rendering
- Text search
- Page zoom
- Printing
- Document outline
- Annotations
Pricing
- Open Source
- Free
Pros
Lightweight
Open source
Secure
Fast load times
Works offline
Consistent experience across devices
Cons
Limited annotation features
Lacks some advanced PDF features like form filling
Printing can be unreliable
Not as full-featured as standalone PDF apps
Official Links
The Best Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) Alternatives
Top Web Browsers and Pdf Viewers and other similar apps like Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)
Here are some alternatives to Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js):
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