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The Html writer exports spreadsheets to HTML format, rendering them as styled HTML tables that can be displayed in web browsers. Namespace: PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html Extends: BaseWriter

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Class Overview

The Html writer converts spreadsheet data into HTML tables with inline or CSS styling. It preserves cell formatting, colors, borders, and supports images and basic features.

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Constructor

public function __construct(Spreadsheet $spreadsheet)
Creates a new Html writer instance.
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spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
required
The spreadsheet object to write

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Key Methods

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save()

public function save($filename, int $flags = 0): void
Saves the spreadsheet as an HTML file.
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filename
string|resource
required
File path or resource to write to
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flags
int
default:"0"
Optional flags (see IWriter constants)

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setSheetIndex()

public function setSheetIndex(int $sheetIndex): self
Selects which worksheet to export.
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sheetIndex
int
required
Zero-based index of the worksheet to export

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writeAllSheets()

public function writeAllSheets(): self
Configures the writer to export all worksheets.

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setGenerateSheetNavigationBlock()

public function setGenerateSheetNavigationBlock(bool $generateSheetNavigationBlock): self
Controls whether to generate navigation tabs for multiple sheets.
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generateSheetNavigationBlock
bool
required
True to generate navigation, false to omit it

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setUseInlineCss()

public function setUseInlineCss(bool $useInlineCss): self
Controls whether to use inline CSS styles or generate a separate style block.
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useInlineCss
bool
required
True for inline styles, false for style block

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setEmbedImages()

public function setEmbedImages(bool $embedImages): self
Controls whether to embed images as data URIs or link to external files.
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embedImages
bool
required
True to embed images, false to link to them

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setImagesRoot()

public function setImagesRoot(string $imagesRoot): self
Sets the root path for image links when not embedding.
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imagesRoot
string
required
Path prefix for image URLs

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setEditHtmlCallback()

public function setEditHtmlCallback(?callable $callback): void
Sets a callback function to edit the generated HTML before output.
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callback
callable|null
required
Function that receives HTML string and returns modified HTML

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generateHTMLHeader()

public function generateHTMLHeader(bool $includeStyles = false): string
Generates the HTML header section.

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generateSheetData()

public function generateSheetData(): string
Generates the HTML table data.

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generateHTMLFooter()

public function generateHTMLFooter(): string
Generates the HTML footer section.

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generateStyles()

public function generateStyles(bool $generateSurroundingHTML = true): string
Generates CSS styles.

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buildCSS()

public function buildCSS(bool $generateSurroundingHTML = true): array
Builds CSS styles as an array.

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Usage Examples

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Basic Export

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Spreadsheet;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$spreadsheet = new Spreadsheet();
$sheet = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet();
$sheet->setCellValue('A1', 'Hello World!');
$sheet->getStyle('A1')->getFont()->setBold(true);

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->save('output.html');

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Export Specific Sheet

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->setSheetIndex(1); // Export second sheet
$writer->save('sheet2.html');

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Export All Sheets with Navigation

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->writeAllSheets();
$writer->setGenerateSheetNavigationBlock(true);
$writer->save('all-sheets.html');

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Inline CSS for Email

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

// Use inline styles for better email client compatibility
$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->setUseInlineCss(true);

$stream = fopen('php://temp', 'r+');
$writer->save($stream);
rewind($stream);
$html = stream_get_contents($stream);
fclose($stream);

// Send via email
mail('[email protected]', 'Report', $html, [
    'Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8'
]);

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Embed Images

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

// Embed images as base64 data URIs
$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->setEmbedImages(true);
$writer->save('with-images.html');

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->setEmbedImages(false);
$writer->setImagesRoot('/images/'); // Images at /images/*.png
$writer->save('output.html');

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Custom HTML Processing

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);

// Add custom processing
$writer->setEditHtmlCallback(function($html) {
    // Add custom CSS
    $html = str_replace('</head>', 
        '<link rel="stylesheet" href="custom.css"></head>', 
        $html);
    
    // Add analytics
    $html = str_replace('</body>', 
        '<script src="analytics.js"></script></body>', 
        $html);
    
    return $html;
});

$writer->save('custom.html');

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Generate HTML String

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$html = $writer->generateHTMLAll();

// Use $html as needed (display, save to database, etc.)

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Output to Browser

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

// Set headers for HTML display
header('Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8');

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->save('php://output');
exit;

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Styled Table

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Spreadsheet;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Alignment;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$spreadsheet = new Spreadsheet();
$sheet = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet();

// Header row
$sheet->fromArray(['Name', 'Email', 'Status'], null, 'A1');
$sheet->getStyle('A1:C1')->applyFromArray([
    'font' => ['bold' => true, 'color' => ['rgb' => 'FFFFFF']],
    'fill' => ['fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID, 'startColor' => ['rgb' => '4472C4']],
    'alignment' => ['horizontal' => Alignment::HORIZONTAL_CENTER]
]);

// Data rows
$sheet->fromArray([
    ['John Doe', '[email protected]', 'Active'],
    ['Jane Smith', '[email protected]', 'Inactive']
], null, 'A2');

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->save('styled.html');

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Format Features

The Html writer supports:
  • ✅ Cell formatting (fonts, colors, borders, fills)
  • ✅ Alignment (horizontal, vertical)
  • ✅ Number formats (displayed as formatted text)
  • ✅ Merged cells
  • ✅ Images (embedded or linked)
  • ✅ Rich text (partial)
  • ✅ Row heights and column widths
  • ✅ Hidden rows and columns
  • ✅ Multiple worksheets
  • ⚠️ Comments (as hover tooltips)
  • ⚠️ Charts (when includeCharts is enabled, as images)
  • ❌ Formulas (values only)
  • ❌ Data validation
  • ❌ Conditional formatting

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CSS Classes

The generated HTML uses these CSS classes:
  • .sheet0, .sheet1, etc. - Individual worksheet tables
  • .row0, .row1, etc. - Table rows
  • .column0, .column1, etc. - Table columns
  • .style0, .style1, etc. - Cell styles
  • .b - Boolean values
  • .n - Numeric values
  • .s - String values
  • .f - Formulas
  • .e - Error values
  • .gridlines - Print gridlines
  • .navigation - Sheet navigation

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Advanced Configuration

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Pre-calculate Formulas

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->setPreCalculateFormulas(true); // Show calculated values
$writer->save('output.html');

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Include Charts

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Html;

$writer = new Html($spreadsheet);
$writer->setIncludeCharts(true); // Render charts as images
$writer->save('with-charts.html');

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