C3.js vs D3.js vs Plotly: What are the differences?

C3.js, D3.js, and Plotly are popular JavaScript libraries used for data visualization on websites. Below are the key differences between these libraries:

1. **Learning Curve**: D3.js is considered to have a steep learning curve due to its low-level API that requires deep understanding of SVG, CSS, and JavaScript. C3.js, on the other hand, provides a higher-level API that simplifies the process of creating charts, making it easier for beginners. Plotly focuses on offering an intuitive interface and comprehensive documentation, making it user-friendly for users of all levels.

2. **Customization**: D3.js allows deep customization of every aspect of a chart, giving developers complete control over the visualizations. C3.js offers a simpler interface with predefined chart types and styles, limiting customization to some extent. Plotly provides a balance between customization and ease of use by offering various customization options through its interface.

3. **Interactivity**: D3.js provides extensive support for adding interactive elements to charts, allowing users to interact with data points and visuals in real-time. C3.js includes basic interactive features by default, such as tooltips and zooming, making it suitable for simple interactions. Plotly shines in interactivity by offering a wide range of interactive features and widgets for enhancing user engagement and data exploration.

4. **Community and Support**: D3.js has a large and active community that contributes to tutorials, examples, and plugins, providing comprehensive support for developers. C3.js has a growing community but may have fewer resources compared to D3.js. Plotly, being a commercial product, offers dedicated customer support and documentation, making it a reliable choice for businesses and professionals.

5. **Rendering Performance**: D3.js excels in rendering performance, as it directly manipulates the DOM for efficient updates and transitions, suitable for handling large datasets. C3.js abstracts the rendering process, which may have overhead compared to D3.js when dealing with complex visualizations. Plotly's rendering performance is optimized for web and mobile platforms, ensuring smooth user experience across devices.

6. **Integration and Compatibility**: D3.js can be seamlessly integrated with other JavaScript frameworks and libraries due to its flexibility, making it a preferred choice for developers working on complex web applications. C3.js is built on top of D3.js and provides easier integration with existing web projects that have less customization requirements. Plotly offers APIs for integrating its visualizations with various platforms, making it versatile for different development environments.

In Summary, the key differences between C3.js, D3.js, and Plotly lie in their learning curve, customization options, interactivity features, community support, rendering performance, and integration capabilities.