Plotly vs. D3.js - Two Titans of Data Visualization
Data visualization is a crucial part of any analytical process. It helps to understand the patterns and trends in the data, and convey the insights to the stakeholders. There are quite a few libraries out there to assist in data visualization, but two of the most popular ones are Plotly and D3.js.
Both libraries come with a set of features, pros, and cons that make them unique. In this blog post, we're going to compare Plotly and D3.js, and help you find the right one for your data visualization needs.
What is Plotly?
Plotly is a commercial data visualization library for creating interactive, web-based charts and graphs. It supports over 40 chart types, including line charts, bar charts, pie charts, heatmaps, and more. Plotly provides an interface for creating charts and graphs with ease without the need for writing any code.
One of the significant benefits of using Plotly is that it provides excellent interactivity features such as zooming, panning, and dynamic updates. Additionally, Plotly has a vast community support and plugins for R and Python programming languages, making it easy to integrate data analysis libraries.
What is D3.js?
D3.js, short for Data-Driven Documents, is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. It combines powerful visualization components and high-level programming techniques to create beautiful and interactive data visualizations.
D3.js's core feature is to use web standards such as HTML, SVG, and CSS to create custom visualization components. Users can use D3.js to enhance their charts and graphs with animation, interaction, and dynamic data updates.
While D3.js provides an extensive set of features to create complex data visualizations, it requires advanced programming skills to work with it.
Comparison of Plotly and D3.js
Both Plotly and D3.js are widely used to create data visualizations of various complexities. Here's a comparison table to help you make an informed decision about which library to use:
| Features | Plotly | D3.js |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Easy to use with an intuitive interface | Requires advanced programming skills |
| Interactivity | Excellent interactivity with zooming, panning, and dynamic updates | Extensive interactivity through customization of components |
| Chart types | Supports over 40 chart types out of the box | Flexibility to create custom and complex visualizations |
| Performance | Provides server-side rendering for faster rendering | Rendering is dependent on the client-side hardware |
While the choice between the two libraries depends on your technical skills and project requirements, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you're looking for an easy-to-use data visualization library, Plotly might be the way to go. But if you need complete customization and complex visualizations, D3.js might be the better option.
References
- "Plotly." https://plotly.com/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2021.
- "D3.js." https://d3js.org/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2021.