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Chart Overview

The Kendo UI Charts use modern browser technologies to render high-quality data visualizations. All graphics are rendered on the client using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) with a fallback to Canvas.

Kendo UI Charts support the following series types:

  • Bar and Column
  • Line and Vertical Line
  • Area and Vertical Area
  • Bullet
  • Pie and Donut
  • Scatter
  • Scatter Line
  • Bubble
  • Radar and Polar

For additional information on new Kendo UI Chart types and features, refer to the Kendo UI Roadmap.

Getting Started

Create the Chart

To create a chart, add an empty div in the HTML, provide it with an ID, and, optionally, set the width and height of the desired chart inline or via CSS, as demonstrated in the example below.

Example
<div id="chart" style="width: 400px; height: 600px"></div>

Initialize the Chart

The Kendo UI Chart widget is rendered by selecting the div with a jQuery selector and calling the kendoChart() function, as demonstrated below.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart();

This results in the chart below.

Figure 1: An empty chart

Empty Chart

Configuration

Add Title

This chart can be given a title by specifying the text property of the title object, as demonstrated in the example below.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart({
    title: {
         text: "Kendo Chart Example"
    }
});

Bind to Data

Kendo UI Charts can visualize series bound to both local and remote data.

Bind to Local Arrays

Start by creating a series that displays inline data.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart({
    title: {
         text: "Kendo Chart Example"
    },
    series: [
         { name: "Example Series", data: [200, 450, 300, 125] }
    ]
});

This results in the chart below.

Figure 2: A chart without categories

Column Chart without categories

Notice that the columns have no label across the category axis. Specify the labeling for the series in the categoryAxis property, as demonstrated in the example below.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart({
    title: {
         text: "Kendo Chart Example"
    },
    series: [
         { name: "Example Series", data: [200, 450, 300, 125] }
    ],
    categoryAxis:{
         categories: [ 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 ]
    }
});

This results in the chart below.

Figure 3: A chart with categories

Column Chart with categories

Categorical Charts

Categorical charts, such as Kendo UI Bar, Column, and Line Charts, use one category axis and one value axis. The axis orientation (horizontal or vertical) is inferred from the series type.

Category Axis

Use the categoryAxis object to set the category names, as demonstrated in the example below.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart({
    series: [{
        name: "World",
        data: [15.7, 16.7, 20, 23.5, 26.6]
    }],
    categoryAxis: {
        categories: [2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009]
    }
});

The category name can also be bound to a field of the data item, as demonstrated below.

Example
var internetUsers = [ {
    "country": "United States",
    "year": "2005",
    "value": 67.96
    }, {
    "country": "United States",
    "year": "2006",
    "value": 68.93
}];

$("#chart").kendoChart({
    dataSource: {
        data: internetUsers
    },
    series: [{
        field: "value",
        name: "United States"
    }],
    categoryAxis: {
        field: "year"
    }
});

Label Positioning for the Categorical Chart Axes

The category and value axes provide options for displaying their labels either next to the axis or at the outer edges of the plot area. By default, the labels are positioned next to the axis.

To change the label position, set the position option of the axis labels which provides the following available options:

  • (Default) When position is set to "onAxis" or undefined, the labels are positioned next to the axis.
  • When position is set to "end", the labels are placed at the end of the crossing axis. Typically, this configuration positions the labels at the top or right end of the Chart unless the crossing axis was reversed.
  • When position is set to "start", the labels are placed at the start of the crossing axis. Typically, this configuration positions the labels at the left or bottom end of the Chart unless the crossing axis was reversed.
Example
$("#container").kendoChart({
    title: {
        text: "Average temperature"
    },
    series: [{
        data: [2, -5, 8]
    }],
    categoryAxis: {
        categories: ["Aug", "Sep", "Oct"],
        labels: {
            position: 'start'
        }
    }
});

Value Axis

The Kendo UI Chart currently supports only Numeric value axes. Configuration options are accessible through the valueAxis object.

The example below demonstrates how to configure a Numeric axis with a minimum value of 0 and a maximum value of 100.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart({
    series: [{
        name: "World",
        data: [15.7, 16.7, 20, 23.5, 26.6]
    }],
    valueAxis: {
        min: 0,
        max: 100
    },
    categoryAxis: {
        categories: [2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009]
    }
});

Multiple Value Axes

A Kendo UI Chart might have more than one value axis. These additional axes must have unique names.

The example below demonstrates how to define the temperature and humidity axes. Series are associated to a value axis by specifying its name.

Example
$("#container").kendoChart({
    title: {
        text: "Average temperature and humidity"
    },
    legend: {
        position: "bottom"
    },
    series: [{
            name: "Temperature",
            data: [20, 25, 32],
            axis: "temperature"
        }, {
            name: "Humidity",
            data: [45, 50, 80],
            axis: "humidity"
    }],
    categoryAxis: {
        categories: ["Aug", "Sep", "Oct"]
    },
    valueAxis: [{
        name: "temperature",
        labels: {
            format: "{0}C"
        }
    }, {
        name: "humidity",
        labels: {
            format: "{0}%"
        }
    }]
});

This results in the chart below.

Figure 4: A chart with multiple axes

Chart with multiple axes

Arrangement of Value Axes

You are able to control the arrangement of the value axes by specifying the values (category indices) at which they cross the category axis, as demonstrated below.

Example
categoryAxis: {
    categories: ["Aug", "Sep", "Oct"],
    axisCrossingValue: [0, 3]
}

The first value axis crosses the category axis at the first category (leftmost). The second value axis crosses it at the last category.

Figure 5: A chart with customized axis-crossing values

Bar chart with customized axis crossing values

Scatter Charts

Primary X/Y Axes

XY Kendo UI Charts, such as Scatter and Scatter Line ones, use one or more X and Y axes. These axes are configured through the xAxis and the yAxis objects, as demonstrated in the example below.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart({
    series: [{
        type: "scatter",
        name: "Pentium D 915",
        data: [[120, 102]]
    }],
    xAxis: {
        max: 1000
    },
    yAxis: {
        min: 80
    }
});

Label Positioning for the Scatter Chart Axes

The X and Y axes provide options for displaying their labels either next to the axis or at the outer edges of the plot area. By default, the labels are positioned next to the axis.

To change the label position, set the position option of the axis labels which provides the following available options:

  • (Default) When position is set to "onAxis" or undefined, the labels are positioned next to the axis.
  • When position is set to "end", the labels are placed at the end of the crossing axis. Typically, this configuration positions the labels at the top or right end of the Chart unless the crossing axis was reversed.
  • When position is set to "start", the labels are placed at the start of the crossing axis. Typically, this configuration positions the labels at the left or bottom end of the Chart unless the crossing axis was reversed.
Example
$("#container").kendoChart({
    series: [{
        data: [[0, 2], [1, -5], [2, 8]]
    }],
    xAxis: {
        labels: {
            position: 'start'
        }
    }
});

Multiple X/Y Axes

You are also able to define more X and Y axes in addition to the primary axes, as demonstrated in the example below. These additional axes must have unique names. Series are associated to a X and Y axes by specifying their name.

Important

Do not specify a name for the primary X and Y axes.

Example
$("#container").kendoChart({
    title: {
        text: "Dyno run results"
    },
    legend: {
        position: "bottom"
    },
    seriesDefaults: {
        type: "scatterLine"
    },
    series: [{
        name: "Power",
        data: [[1000,  10], [1500, 19], [2000, 30]]
    }, {
        name: "Torque",
        data: [[1000,  50], [1500, 65], [2000, 80]],
        yAxis: "torque"
    }],
    xAxis: {
        title: "Engine rpm"
    },
    yAxis: [{
        labels: {
            format: "{0} bhp"
        }
    }, {
        name: "torque",
        labels: {
            format: "{0} Nm"
        }
    }]
});

The first series is associated with the default Y axis, as no axis name is specified. The torque series are plotted on the torque Y axis.

Figure 6: A Scatter chart with multiple axes

Scatter chart with multiple axes

Arrangement of X/Y Axes

You are able to control the arrangement of the X and Y axes by specifying the values at which they cross the primary axes.

Example
xAxis: {
    title: "Engine rpm",
    axisCrossingValue: [0, 2500]
}

The primary Y axis crosses the X axis at 0 (leftmost). The second, torque Y axis crosses the X axis at the 2500 mark or at its right end, whichever comes first.

Figure 7: A Scatter chart with customized axis-crossing values

Scatter line chart with customized axis crossing value

Axis Features

Axis Title

You can add a title to clearly indicate the role of the axis, as demonstrated below.

Example
$("#container").kendoChart({
    title: {
        text: "Average temperature and humidity"
    },
    legend: {
        position: "bottom"
    },
    series: [{
            name: "Temperature",
            data: [20, 25, 32],
            axis: "temperature"
        }, {
            name: "Humidity",
            data: [45, 50, 80],
            axis: "humidity"
    }],
    categoryAxis: {
        categories: ["Aug", "Sep", "Oct"],
        axisCrossingValue: [0, 3]
    },
    valueAxis: [{
        name: "temperature",
        title: {
            text: "Temperature, Celsius"
        }
    }, {
        name: "humidity",
        title: {
            text: "Relative Humidity"
        }
    }]
});

Figure 8: A chart with axis titles

Chart with axis titles

Plot Bands

Each axis can be configured to display bands with different colors for predefined value ranges. The category index (zero based) is used as a value for the category axis.

Example
valueAxis: [{
    name: "temperature",
    title: {
        text: "Temperature, Celsius"
    },
    plotBands: [{
        from: 30,
        to: 40,
        color: "#f99"
    }]
    }, {
    name: "humidity",
    title: {
        text: "Relative Humidity"
    }
}]

Figure 9: A chart with axis plot bands

Chart with axis plot bands

Global Settings

Sometimes you need to apply settings to all axes. In such cases it is convenient to use the axisDefaults object.

Example
$("#chart").kendoChart({
    series: [{
        type: "scatter",
        name: "Pentium D 915",
        data: [[120, 102]]
    }],
    axisDefaults: {
        labels: {
            font: "16px Verdana"
        }
    }
});

See Also

Other articles on Kendo UI Charts:

For runnable examples on Kendo UI Charts, refer to the how-to section of articles.

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