Yes, C3.js is an open-source library released under the MIT License, and it is free to use.
What is C3.js?
Key takeaways:
C3.js is a user-friendly and efficient charting library. It simplifies the process of creating visually appealing charts.
C3.js offers a wide range of chart types and customization options. This allows you to create charts that fit your specific needs.
C3.js is a good choice for projects that require clear and informative charts without needing the full power of D3.js. Its simplicity and ease of use make it a great option for many data visualization tasks.eb applications
C3.js offers developers and data scientists the ability to create visually interesting and interactive charts, making it an important tool for data-driven web applications. It is based on the D3.js library and creates charts in an easier and more declarative way. With C3.js, we can quickly transform raw data into meaningful visualizations that help the users understand and interpret information effectively.
Features
Let's see some features of the C3.js library:
Chart types: It provides multiple types of charts, such as line, bar, scatter, pie, etc.
Interactivity: It provides interactivity features (e.g., zooming, tooltips, etc.), which are easier to enable than writing D3.js code from scratch.
Customizable: It provides classes to the elements of the charts, so we can customize them using these classes.
Controllable: It allows us to update the state of the chart even after it is rendered using the different APIs and callbacks.
Pros and cons of C3.js
Features | Pros | Cons |
Simplicity | Easy to learn and use | Limited features compared to D3.js |
Flexibility | Customizable to fit specific needs | Steeper learning curve for complex charts |
Performance | Fast and efficient | Less mature ecosystem |
Setup
To use the C3.js library in the web application, we need to include the following links:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/c3/0.4.10/c3.min.css" /><script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/d3/3.5.16/d3.min.js"></script><script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/c3/0.4.10/c3.min.js"></script>
On line 1, we load the CSS of the C3.js library.
On line 2, we load d3.js, a major dependency for C3.js, which is built on top of D3.js.
On line 3, we include the JavaScript of the C3.js library.
Example application
Here is what a C3.js application could look like. In this example, we can see a basic chart that shows the comparisons of two datasets, such as set1 and set2.
While C3.js is simple to use, it has limitations. It may not provide the same level of customization as D3.js for highly customized charts. Even so, C3.js is a good choice for most projects since it strikes a good mix between ease of use and functionality when generating intriguing data visualizations.
Conclusion
C3.js is a valuable tool for creating visually appealing and interactive charts for data-driven web applications. Compared to the underlying D3.js library, it simplifies the process of transforming raw data into meaningful visualizations.
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