IronPdf.Slim: Lightweight PDF Processing Without Chromium
When to Use IronPdf.Slim
If your project focuses solely on PDF processing such as merging, editing, stamping, redacting, or encrypting, IronPdf.Slim is the preferred choice. Standard IronPDF always loads the Chromium rendering engine, even if your application does not convert HTML or URLs to PDF, which can create unnecessary overhead. IronPdf.Slim avoids this, remaining lightweight when rendering is not required.
ChromePdfRenderer is the only class that triggers a Chromium download — i.e. converting HTML, a URL, or an image into a PDF. If your project never does this, IronPdf.Slim stays lean.Setting Up IronPdf.Slim
IronPdf.Slim can be used to reduce the initial deployment size. This is useful in environments where the initial package size is limited, such as AWS Lambda, with IronPDF being installed to a container. Additional information on this package is as follows:
- IronPdf.Slim contains just the IronPdf.dll
- Supports ALL platforms but does NOT include Windows, Linux, or MacOS specific dependencies
- Useful for cross-platform solutions/highly portable applications where the target platform is unknown
- It requires the installation of the IronSoftware.Native.PdfModel package.
IronPdf.Native.Chrome dependency packages that contain Chrome rendering engine binaries for specific OS (Windows/Linux/MacOS/MacOS.ARM) will be downloaded at runtime. To ensure successful operation:
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You must set Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries to
true.// Enables automatic downloading of native binaries needed for IronPdf.Slim operation IronPdf.Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries = true;' Enables automatic downloading of native binaries needed for IronPdf.Slim operation IronPdf.Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries = True -
Make sure your project is connected to the internet to enable the binaries to be delivered via NuGet source.
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Ensure that you have the necessary Read, Write, and Execute permissions to allow the binaries to be placed inside the project folder.
Should there still be a problem using IronPdf.Slim in your project, do not hesitate to contact support.
Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.
