NVD3 is a reusable charting library for creating interactive and visually appealing data visualizations using D3.js. It provides a set of ready-to-use chart components like line charts, bar charts, pie charts, and scatter plots, making it easy to display complex data in a clear and engaging way. NVD3 simplifies the process of creating custom charts by handling the underlying D3.js logic and providing a higher-level API for developers.
Plotly.js is a high-level JavaScript graphing library that allows you to create interactive, publication-quality graphs and charts. It provides a wide range of chart types, including scatter plots, bar charts, line charts, and more, with support for customization and interactivity. Plotly.js is known for its ease of use and flexibility, making it a popular choice for data visualization in web applications.
Plotly.js is more popular and widely used compared to NVD3. Plotly.js has a larger community, more active development, and is often preferred for its modern features and capabilities.
Features
Plotly.js offers a wide range of interactive and customizable charts, including 3D plots, heatmaps, and more. It provides a rich set of features for data visualization. NVD3, while also offering a variety of chart types, may not have as extensive features and customization options as Plotly.js.
Ease of Use
Plotly.js is known for its ease of use and intuitive API, making it simpler to create complex visualizations. NVD3, while user-friendly, may require more configuration and setup compared to Plotly.js.
Performance
Plotly.js is optimized for performance and can handle large datasets efficiently. NVD3, being an older library, may not be as performant as Plotly.js in handling complex and dynamic data visualizations.
Community Support
Plotly.js has a larger and more active community compared to NVD3. This means that finding resources, documentation, and community support is easier for Plotly.js users.
Integration
Plotly.js can be easily integrated with various front-end frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, and Vue. NVD3, while also compatible with these frameworks, may not have the same level of seamless integration as Plotly.js.