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How to Export a PDF in C# | IronPDF

C# Export to PDF Code Example Tutorial

Chaknith Bin
Chaknith Bin
Updated:

IronPDF is a C# PDF Library that allows you to use C# to save your HTML as a PDF. It also allows C# / VB developers to edit PDF documents programmatically.

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How to Export PDF in C#

  1. Download and install the C# PDF Export Library from NuGet
  2. Explore the PdfDocument documentation to discover methods for digitally signing exported PDFs
  3. Save PDF to memory using a System.IO.MemoryStream
  4. Serve a PDF to the web as binary data rather than HTML
  5. Export the PDF as file


Options for Saving PDFs

How to Save PDF to Disk

Use the PdfDocument.SaveAs method to save your PDF to disk.

You will find that this method supports adding password protection. Check out the following article to learn more about digitally signing exported PDFs: 'Digitally Sign a PDF Document.'

How to Save a PDF File to MemoryStream in C# (System.IO.MemoryStream)

The IronPdf.PdfDocument.Stream property saves the PDF to memory using a System.IO.MemoryStream.

How to Save to Binary Data

The IronPdf.PdfDocument.BinaryData property exports the PDF document as binary data in memory.

This outputs the PDF as a ByteArray, which is expressed in C# as byte [].

How to Serve from a Web Server to Browser

To serve a PDF to the web, we need to send it as binary data rather than HTML.

MVC PDF Export

// Sends 'stream' to the client as a file download with the specified name.
return new FileStreamResult(stream, "application/pdf")
{
    FileDownloadName = "file.pdf"
};
// Sends 'stream' to the client as a file download with the specified name.
return new FileStreamResult(stream, "application/pdf")
{
    FileDownloadName = "file.pdf"
};
' Sends 'stream' to the client as a file download with the specified name.
Return New FileStreamResult(stream, "application/pdf") With {.FileDownloadName = "file.pdf"}
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

ASP.NET PDF Export

// Retrieves the PDF binary data
byte[] Binary = MyPdfDocument.BinaryData;

// Clears the existing response content
Response.Clear();

// Sets the response content type to 'application/octet-stream', suitable for PDF files
Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream";

// Writes the binary data to the response output stream
Context.Response.OutputStream.Write(Binary, 0, Binary.Length);

// Flushes the response to send the data to the client
Response.Flush();
// Retrieves the PDF binary data
byte[] Binary = MyPdfDocument.BinaryData;

// Clears the existing response content
Response.Clear();

// Sets the response content type to 'application/octet-stream', suitable for PDF files
Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream";

// Writes the binary data to the response output stream
Context.Response.OutputStream.Write(Binary, 0, Binary.Length);

// Flushes the response to send the data to the client
Response.Flush();
' Retrieves the PDF binary data
Dim Binary() As Byte = MyPdfDocument.BinaryData

' Clears the existing response content
Response.Clear()

' Sets the response content type to 'application/octet-stream', suitable for PDF files
Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream"

' Writes the binary data to the response output stream
Context.Response.OutputStream.Write(Binary, 0, Binary.Length)

' Flushes the response to send the data to the client
Response.Flush()
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I export a PDF in C#?

To export a PDF in C#, you can use the IronPDF library. First, download and install the C# PDF Export Library from NuGet. Then, explore the `PdfDocument` methods to save PDFs to disk or memory and serve them to a web browser.

What are the options for saving PDFs using IronPDF?

IronPDF allows you to save PDFs using several methods: save to disk with PdfDocument.SaveAs, save to memory using System.IO.MemoryStream, or export as binary data with PdfDocument.BinaryData.

How do I save a PDF to disk in C#?

Use the PdfDocument.SaveAs method in IronPDF to save your PDF to disk. This method also supports features like adding password protection to your document.

How can I save a PDF to a MemoryStream in C#?

In IronPDF, you can save a PDF to memory using the IronPdf.PdfDocument.Stream property, which employs a System.IO.MemoryStream for efficient handling of PDF data.

How do I export a PDF as binary data in C#?

The PdfDocument.BinaryData property in IronPDF allows you to export the PDF document as binary data in memory, represented as a byte[] array.

How can I serve a PDF from a web server to a browser using IronPDF?

To serve a PDF from a web server to a browser using IronPDF, you should send it as binary data. In MVC, you can use FileStreamResult, and in ASP.NET, you would write the binary data directly to the response stream.

What is the role of System.IO.MemoryStream in handling PDFs with IronPDF?

System.IO.MemoryStream is used in IronPDF to save PDF files to memory, enabling efficient management of PDF data without the need for immediate disk storage.

How do I send a PDF as a file download in MVC using IronPDF?

In an MVC application, you can send a PDF as a file download using the FileStreamResult class. This streams the PDF data to the client for download with the specified file name.

Chaknith Bin
Chaknith Bin
  Chat with engineering team now
Software Engineer
Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.
Reviewed by
Jeff Fritz
Jeffrey T. Fritz
Principal Program Manager - .NET Community Team
Jeff is also a Principal Program Manager for the .NET and Visual Studio teams. He is the executive producer of the .NET Conf virtual conference series and hosts 'Fritz and Friends' a live stream for developers that airs twice weekly where he talks tech and writes code together with viewers. Jeff writes workshops, presentations, and plans content for the largest Microsoft developer events including Microsoft Build, Microsoft Ignite, .NET Conf, and the Microsoft MVP Summit
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