Troubleshooting

This guide provides solutions to common issues encountered when using pdf-parse, especially related to worker configuration, canvas factory, Node.js versions, and deployment environments.

1. DOMMatrix is not defined

This error occurs when DOMMatrix is not available in the Node.js environment. To fix:

ESM

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
import { CanvasFactory } from 'pdf-parse/worker';
import { PDFParse } from 'pdf-parse';

const parser = new PDFParse({ data: buffer, CanvasFactory });

CJS

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
const { CanvasFactory } = require ('pdf-parse/worker');
const { PDFParse } = require ('pdf-parse');

const parser = new PDFParse({ data: buffer, CanvasFactory });

2. Error: require() of ES Module

This happens when trying to require an ES module. Ensure you're using import statements or configure your environment to handle ES modules properly.

For Node.js, add "type": "module" or "type": "commonjs".

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
import { getPath, getData } from 'pdf-parse/worker';
import { PDFParse } from 'pdf-parse';

PDFParse.setWorker(getData());
// or
// PDFParse.setWorker(getPath());

3. Error: Cannot find module 'pdf-parse' or '@napi-rs/canvas'

Next.js & Vercel, Edge Functions, Serverless Functions, AWS Lambda, Netlify Functions, or Cloudflare Workers may require additional worker configuration.

This will most likely resolve all worker-related issues.

import 'pdf-parse/worker'; // Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
import {PDFParse} from 'pdf-parse';

// or CommonJS
require ('pdf-parse/worker'); // Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
const {PDFParse} = require('pdf-parse');

To ensure pdf-parse works correctly with Next.js (especially on serverless platforms like Vercel), add the following configuration to your next.config.ts file. This allows Next.js to include pdf-parse as an external package for server-side usage:

Load moduels for serverless enviroment:

// next.config.ts for vercel deploy
import type { NextConfig } from "next";

const nextConfig: NextConfig = {
  serverExternalPackages: ["pdf-parse", "@napi-rs/canvas"],
};

export default nextConfig;

Note: Similar configuration may be required for other serverless platforms (such as AWS Lambda, Netlify, or Cloudflare Workers) to ensure that pdf-parse and its worker files are properly included and executed in your deployment environment.

4. Error: Setting up fake worker failed

This indicates issues with worker initialization. Try manually setting the worker:

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
import { getPath, getData } from 'pdf-parse/worker';
import { PDFParse } from 'pdf-parse';

PDFParse.setWorker(getPath());
// or
// PDFParse.setWorker(getData());

5. TypeError: process.getBuiltinModule is not a function

This error occurs on older Node.js versions. Upgrade to Node.js (20+, 22+, 23+, 24+) or use a compatible canvas implementation. Import and configure a compatible CanvasFactory or worker implementation before initializing pdf-parse; see the examples below.

ESM

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
import { CanvasFactory } from 'pdf-parse/worker'; 
import { PDFParse } from 'pdf-parse';

const parser = new PDFParse({ data: buffer, CanvasFactory });
// then use parser

6. Error: No "GlobalWorkerOptions.workerSrc" or Invalid URL

Set the worker source explicitly:

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
import { getPath, getData } from 'pdf-parse/worker';
import { PDFParse } from 'pdf-parse';

PDFParse.setWorker(getPath());
// or
// PDFParse.setWorker(getData());

Supported Node.js Versions(20.x, 22.x, 23.x, 24.x)

Supported: Node.js 20 (>= 20.16.0), Node.js 22 (>= 22.3.0), Node.js 23 (>= 23.0.0), and Node.js 24 (>= 24.0.0).
Not supported: Node.js 21.x, and Node.js 19.x and earlier.

Integration tests run on Node.js 20–24, see test_integration.yml.

Unsupported Node.js Versions (18.x, 19.x, 21.x)

Import and configure a compatible CanvasFactory or worker implementation before initializing pdf-parse; see the examples below.

ESM

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
import { CanvasFactory } from 'pdf-parse/worker'; 
import { PDFParse } from 'pdf-parse';

const parser = new PDFParse({ data: buffer, CanvasFactory });
// then use parser

CJS

// Import this before importing "pdf-parse"
const { CanvasFactory } = require('pdf-parse/worker'); 
const { PDFParse } = require('pdf-parse');

const parser = new PDFParse({ data: buffer, CanvasFactory });
// then use parser

Unsupported tests run on Node.js 18, 19, 21, see test_unsupported.yml.

General Advice

Ensure your deployment platform supports the required Node.js version and dependencies.
For custom builds, Electron/NW.js, or specific deployment environments, you may need to manually configure the worker source.

If you continue to experience issues, please check the GitHub Issues page or open a new issue with details about your environment and error messages.