Graph JS Library Comparison

Run the Graph JS Library Comparison MicroSim Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

This interactive comparison table consolidates the architectural properties, licensing limits, performance metrics, and framework integrations of eight leading JavaScript graph drawing libraries. Selecting a visualization engine dictates rendering speed, customizability, and development velocity in intelligent textbook design.

How to Use

Sort Columns: Click any table header (e.g., Max Scale, Size, Rendering Tech) to sort the libraries. Click a second time to reverse the sort order (indicated by active arrows).
Search / Filter: Type in the search box in the top-right corner to dynamically filter libraries by name, rendering technology, or license.
Compare Constraints: Observe the relationship between rendering technology (SVG vs. Canvas vs. WebGL) and the maximum supported node scale.

Iframe Embed Code

To embed this interactive comparison table in an external curriculum page or LMS, use the following code:

<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/learning-graphs/sims/graph-js-library-comparison/main.html"
        height="532px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Grade Level

College / Professional (Educational Technologists, Instructional Designers, Software Engineers)

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of web technologies (HTML, CSS, SVG, Canvas) and directed graph concepts.

Activities

Performance Exploration (5 min): Sort the table by Max Scale and notice which rendering technology corresponds to higher capacities. Contrast WebGL (Sigma.js) with DOM-based rendering (React Flow).
Bundle Budgeting (5 min): Sort by Size (Min/Gzip bundle footprint) and discuss the trade-off between lightweight rendering (Sigma.js) and comprehensive, feature-heavy suites (GoJS, G6).
Framework Matching (5 min): Filter the list to see which libraries offer native React support versus imperative integration wrappers, and align these with project architecture goals.

Assessment Questions

Why does Sigma.js support an order of magnitude more nodes than other canvas/SVG-based alternatives?
When is React Flow preferred over vis-network, even though its maximum scale is lower?