Using the content of a directory to create a table of a website

I'm currently facing the following problem: I have a directory with PDFs and I want to build a table using the information within the PDF names. For example, I have PDF that is named like so: name_topic_type.pdf. Now I would like to build a table with 3 columns and 1 row for each pdf. I know how to create the table once I have the necessary information (using JavaScript). What I don't know is how to get the information. The directory will be on the Webserver, on request of the WebSite a script should be launched that takes the content of director and makes it available for my JS file that then builds the table.

I have no backend experience, so I dont really know how to approach a problem like this, although its probably simple.

Many Thanks Ruby