How to Render URL to PDF in C# with IronPDF

How Do I Convert a URL to PDF with IronPDF?

This example shows IronPDF rendering a Wikipedia webpage into PDF using the RenderUrlAsPdf() method. This method requires an absolute URI pointing to the HTML document.

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/how-to/url-to-pdf.cs

using IronPdf;

// Instantiate Renderer
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Create a PDF from a URL or local file path
var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page");

// Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("url.pdf");

The RenderUrlAsPdf method supports HTTP and HTTPS protocols. Before continuing, complete the Installation Overview to set up IronPDF in your development environment.

For complex scenarios, explore additional URL to PDF examples that demonstrate authentication, custom headers, and rendering options.

Advanced Configuration with RenderingOptions

Customize your PDF conversion through the RenderingOptions property. Configure page margins, paper size, orientation, and more.

using IronPdf;

// Advanced renderer with custom options
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Configure rendering options
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 40;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 40;
renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfCssMediaType.Print;
renderer.RenderingOptions.PrintHtmlBackgrounds = true;
renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true;

// Set custom paper size
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.A4;
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperOrientation = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperOrientation.Portrait;

// Render URL to PDF with custom settings
var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com");
pdf.SaveAs("customized-output.pdf");

using IronPdf;

// Advanced renderer with custom options
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Configure rendering options
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 40;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 40;
renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfCssMediaType.Print;
renderer.RenderingOptions.PrintHtmlBackgrounds = true;
renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true;

// Set custom paper size
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.A4;
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperOrientation = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperOrientation.Portrait;

// Render URL to PDF with custom settings
var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com");
pdf.SaveAs("customized-output.pdf");

Handling JavaScript and Dynamic Content

Modern web pages rely on JavaScript to render content. IronPDF's Chrome rendering engine captures dynamic content through JavaScript rendering capabilities.

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Wait for JavaScript to execute
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay(2000); // Wait 2 seconds

// Or wait for specific JavaScript events
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript(1500); // Maximum wait time
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.HtmlElement("div.dynamic-content", 5000);

var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com/dynamic-page");
pdf.SaveAs("dynamic-content.pdf");

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Wait for JavaScript to execute
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay(2000); // Wait 2 seconds

// Or wait for specific JavaScript events
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript(1500); // Maximum wait time
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.HtmlElement("div.dynamic-content", 5000);

var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com/dynamic-page");
pdf.SaveAs("dynamic-content.pdf");

Adding Headers and Footers

Add headers and footers with page numbers, dates, or company information using IronPDF's Headers and Footers functionality.

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Add header with dynamic content
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
{
    Height = 30,
    HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align:center;font-size:12px;'>{page} of {total-pages}</div>",
    DrawDividerLine = true
};

// Add footer with company info
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlFooter = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
{
    Height = 25,
    HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align:center;font-size:10px;'>© 2024 Your Company Name</div>",
    DrawDividerLine = true
};

var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com");
pdf.SaveAs("with-headers-footers.pdf");

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Add header with dynamic content
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
{
    Height = 30,
    HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align:center;font-size:12px;'>{page} of {total-pages}</div>",
    DrawDividerLine = true
};

// Add footer with company info
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlFooter = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
{
    Height = 25,
    HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align:center;font-size:10px;'>© 2024 Your Company Name</div>",
    DrawDividerLine = true
};

var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com");
pdf.SaveAs("with-headers-footers.pdf");

Optimizing CSS for PDF Output

IronPDF supports both screen and print CSS media types. Understanding how CSS media types affect output helps optimize PDF appearance. Learn more about CSS handling for PDF conversion to ensure professional-looking documents.

Common Use Cases

URL to PDF conversion serves these business scenarios:

1. Report Generation: Convert dashboard URLs to PDF reports
2. Web Archiving: Create PDF snapshots for compliance or documentation
3. Invoice Generation: Convert web-based invoices to PDF format
4. Content Publishing: Transform articles into downloadable PDFs
5. Legal Documentation: Archive web content for legal proceedings

Best Practices and Performance Tips

Consider these best practices when converting URLs to PDF:

• Error Handling: Wrap conversion code in try-catch blocks to handle network issues
• Timeout Settings: Configure timeouts for slow-loading pages
• Resource Management: Use using statements for proper disposal
• Batch Processing: Consider parallel processing for multiple URLs

For comprehensive guidance, explore the complete URL to PDF documentation covering additional scenarios and troubleshooting.

Conclusion

IronPDF offers a reliable solution for converting URLs to PDFs in C#. With its Chrome rendering engine, customization options, and JavaScript support, it handles simple web pages to complex dynamic applications. Build enterprise reporting systems or web scrapers with IronPDF's URL to PDF capabilities.