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4 Best Chart Generation Options with PHP Components
- William ShakespeareOriginal
- 2025-02-17 09:58:10527browse
Data visualization is crucial in modern data processing, and there are many libraries available for this purpose. These libraries can be divided into two categories: server-side and client-side components, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
The following figure is a chart from Google Trends, showing that people's interest in data visualization has continued to grow in recent years.
If you are working on data and have not used any chart components yet, you will most likely need one soon. This is why I decided to list some libraries to simplify the data visualization task.
But before you start, you need to understand that there are two types of chart components: server-side and client-side. Both have their pros and cons, and what suits you best depends on your project goals and the resources you have. This article introduces the client chart, but as shown below, there is some overlap between the two.
Server and client chart generation
Server-side components usually generate image charts. They use algorithms to convert data into chart images and increase server overhead. In addition to using the server's processing power, image-based charts also increase bandwidth consumption. Sometimes, larger image sizes can lead to slow downloading, which can annoy the end user.
The above limitations of server-side charts can be overcome by using client components (based on JavaScript). The browser will get JSON or XML data from the server and render the chart locally. Client components can also be customized to a larger scope. They are usually interactive, support animation, and can be easily incorporated into the design of the application.
Some chart libraries such as FusionCharts provide wrappers that allow you to write code in PHP only. Using the PHP wrapper, you can generate strings of the required JavaScript and HTML code on the server. You can then output these strings to the page to generate a chart.
With this in mind, let's look at some chart options with PHP components.
Google Charts (Client)
Although it is based on JavaScript, Google Charts offers some options that allow you to create charts entirely using PHP. You can use server-side code (in this case PHP) to get the data, or use one of the open source wrappers to do this.
Apart from being completely free, the advantage of Google Charts is that it has many code examples that can help you get started quickly.
One thing to remember about Google Charts is that you do not allow Google's JS files to be hosted on the server.
Create charts using Google Charts:
I have drawn SitePoint's most popular PHP framework survey data for 2015. To view the live chart, visit here and click Run.
The following is the HTML code for the chart: (You can view the full code here.)
<code class="language-html"><!DOCTYPE html>
<div id="chart_div"></div>
</code>
The following is the getData.php file included in the above code:
<code class="language-html"><!DOCTYPE html>
<div id="chart_div"></div>
</code>
FusionCharts (client)
FusionCharts is known primarily for its JavaScript or jQuery charts, but many developers don't know about its official PHP wrapper. You can take advantage of FusionCharts's detailed library of over 90 interactive charts and 965 maps with its PHP wrapper. Their charts are highly customizable and have a very active support system.
They have a large number of dashboards (many of which are free to download) and a huge library of graph representations to get inspiration from.
One thing to remember about FusionCharts is that it is a paid option. While the wrapper is free, you need a license to use the library in a commercial application. This isn't as cumbersome as it sounds, as you can download the free trial at any time, and it has no feature limits.
Create charts using FusionCharts:
To view the live chart, visit here and click "Run".
The following is the PHP code that generates the bar chart: (You can view the full code here)
<code class="language-php"><?php
$string = file_get_contents("data.json");
echo $string;
?></code>
pChart (server side)
pChart is one of the few native PHP chart libraries that are still actively developing. However, as mentioned above, as a pure server-side chart component, it has both advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantage is that you don't have to worry about cross-device and cross-browser compatibility, as pChart generates images for you. However, you lose the interactivity provided by client libraries like FusionCharts and Google Charts.
Create charts with pChart:
If you try to get started with pChart, SitePoint has an excellent (although a little old) tutorial for your reference: Create charts with pChart.
The following is the PHP code for the chart (download the source code from here):
<code class="language-php"><?php
include("fusioncharts.php");
$columnChart = new FusionCharts("Column2D", "myFirstChart" , 780, 400, "chart-1", "jsonurl", "data.json");
$columnChart->render();
?>
<div id="chart-1"></div></code>
ChartLogix PHP Graphs (server side)
ChartLogix PHP Graphs might be a good choice if you only need to use basic charts in your application. It contains a limited collection of the most commonly used charts such as bar charts, pie charts, line charts, etc., and costs only $44.99 and can be used for unlimited commercial purposes.
Although it is not actively developed, it still provides personal support to all buyers. It renders the output as an image and provides customization of the layout, font, color scheme and some visual effects.
Create charts using ChartLogix PHP Graphs:
ChartLogix does not offer a free trial, but that's not a big deal, as you can always use its designer features to get familiar with the code and design. In fact, this will save you a lot of time because you can evaluate it in minutes.
The following is the code to generate the bar chart, which you can access to this page to do.
<code class="language-html"><!DOCTYPE html>
<div id="chart_div"></div>
</code>
Conclusion
I hope you find the above libraries useful, but if you want more options, check out PHPGraphLib and JpGraph. PHPGraph is a lightweight server-side library and is completely free for all purposes. JpGraph, on the other hand, offers a streamlined free version. Neither of these libraries is actively developed at the moment, but their current stable versions are still working well.
Charts are a crowded space, and this is by no means a complete list of PHP chart tools. Instead, I tried to list tools that have a good record and simplify creating beautiful chart tasks.
Did you use other PHP charting tools not included here? I would love to learn about it in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions about PHP Chart Generation Options
What key features should be considered when selecting PHP chart generation components?
When selecting the PHP chart generation component, several key features need to be considered. First, the component should support various chart types such as line charts, bar charts, pie charts, and scatter charts. Second, it should provide customization options so that you can customize the charts to your specific needs. Third, the component should be easy to use and integrated into your existing PHP project. Finally, it should be well documented and supported to help you with any issues that may arise.
How to compare the performance of different PHP chart generation components?
The performance of PHP chart generation components varies greatly. Some components are highly optimized to quickly generate charts even with large datasets. Other components may be slower, especially when dealing with complex charts or large amounts of data. Before deciding to use components, be sure to test the performance of components with your specific use cases.
Is there a free PHP chart generation component available?
Yes, there are several free PHP chart generation components available. These include pChart, Chart.js and Google Charts. While these components may not offer as much functionality as some paid options, they are still a great choice for simple charting needs.
How to integrate PHP chart generation components into my project?
Integrating PHP chart generation components into your project usually involves the library that contains components in your project, initializing components, and then using its API to create and customize the chart. The exact steps may vary depending on the specific component you are using.
Can I use the PHP chart generation component with other programming languages?
While the PHP chart generation component is designed to be used with PHP, some of them can also be used with other programming languages. For example, Google Charts can be used with JavaScript in addition to PHP. However, you may need to do some extra work to integrate the components with a non-PHP language.
What common problems may occur when generating components using PHP charts?
Some common problems that may arise when generating components using PHP charts include performance issues, compatibility issues with different PHP versions, and difficulty in customization. Good documentation and support can help you overcome these problems.
How to customize the display of the chart?
Most PHP chart generation components offer various customization options. These options may include changing the color, font and size of the chart elements, adding labels and legends, and adjusting the scale and axes of the chart. The exact customization options available will depend on the specific component you are using.
Can I create interactive charts using PHP chart generation component?
Yes, many PHP chart generation components support creating interactive charts. These charts can include features such as tooltips, zoom and pan, and clickable elements. However, creating interactive charts can be more complex than creating static charts, so choosing a component that provides good interactive support is very important.
Can I create a live chart using the PHP chart generation component?
Yes, some PHP chart generation components support the creation of real-time charts. These charts can be automatically updated to reflect new data (once available). This is especially useful for applications that need to display changing data such as stock market applications.
How to troubleshoot issues with my PHP chart generation component?
If you encounter problems with generating components with PHP charts, first check the components' documentation. This should provide information on common problems and how to resolve them. If you can't find the information you need in the documentation, you can try contacting the component's support team or community for help.
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