Advanced guide to Plotly.js

Plotly.js is a high-level, declarative charting library that enables you to create a wide variety of interactive and visually appealing charts, from simple line charts to complex 3D visualizations. It offers flexibility, customization options, and interactivity, making it ideal for data exploration.

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Getting Started with Plotly.js

First, you need to include Plotly.js in your project. You can add it via CDN or install it using npm if you’re working with a Node.js environment.

Including via CDN:

<script src="https://cdn.plot.ly/plotly-latest.min.js"></script>

Installing via npm:

npm install plotly.js

Basic Plot Structure

Plotly requires three main components to create a plot:

1. Data: An array of trace objects (each representing a data series).
2. Layout: Configuration object for the plot’s overall appearance.
3. Configuration (optional): Settings for the plot’s behavior.

1. Advanced Line Chart with Multiple Traces

Let’s create an advanced line chart that displays multiple data series with custom styling, legends, and annotations.

Example:

<div id="line-chart"></div>
<script>
  const trace1 =…