How To Display Data Values On Chart Js

When working with Chart.js, one of the common tasks developers often face is displaying data values directly on the charts. This feature can provide valuable insights to the viewers and make your visualizations more informative. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to achieve this functionality in your Chart.js charts.

To display data values on your Chart.js chart, you can leverage the built-in plugin called 'datalabels.' This plugin allows you to easily show data values on various types of charts, such as bar charts, pie charts, and line charts.

### Setting Up 'datalabels' Plugin

First, you need to include the 'chartjs-plugin-datalabels' plugin in your project. You can install it using npm or yarn:

npm install chartjs-plugin-datalabels --save

or

yarn add chartjs-plugin-datalabels

After installing the plugin, you need to include it in your Chart.js configuration. Here's a simple example of how to set up the 'datalabels' plugin in your chart options:

const chartOptions = {
    plugins: {
        datalabels: {
            anchor: 'end',
            align: 'top'
        }
    }
};

In this example, we have configured the plugin to display the data labels at the end of the data points with alignment set to the top. You can customize these options based on your specific requirements. The 'datalabels' plugin provides a wide range of customization options to suit different design needs.

### Applying Data Labels to Your Chart

To apply data labels to your Chart.js chart, you simply need to enable the plugin by adding it to the list of plugins in your chart configuration. Here's an example of how to enable the 'datalabels' plugin in a bar chart:

const chartData = {
    labels: ['January', 'February', 'March', 'April', 'May'],
    datasets: [{
        label: 'Sales',
        data: [50, 60, 70, 80, 90],
        backgroundColor: 'rgba(54, 162, 235, 0.2)',
        borderColor: 'rgba(54, 162, 235, 1)',
        borderWidth: 1
    }]
};

const chartOptions = {
    plugins: {
        datalabels: {
            display: true
        }
    }
};

const barChart = new Chart(ctx, {
    type: 'bar',
    data: chartData,
    options: chartOptions
});

In this example, we have set the 'display' option to true within the 'datalabels' plugin configuration. This enables the data labels to be shown on the bar chart.

### Customizing Data Labels

You can further customize the appearance of the data labels by adjusting various options provided by the 'datalabels' plugin. You can change the font size, color, position, and other styling properties to make the data labels more visually appealing and readable.

By following these steps and examples, you can easily display data values on your Chart.js charts using the 'datalabels' plugin. Experiment with different options to find the best configuration that suits your data visualization needs. Adding data labels can enhance the clarity and understanding of your charts, making them more insightful and engaging for your audience. Try it out in your projects and see the difference it makes in presenting your data effectively.