graphlib vs cytoscape vs graphology vs vis-network
Graph Visualization and Manipulation Libraries Comparison
graphlibcytoscapegraphologyvis-networkSimilar Packages:
What's Graph Visualization and Manipulation Libraries?

Graph visualization and manipulation libraries in JavaScript provide tools for creating, displaying, and interacting with graph data structures (nodes and edges) in web applications. These libraries offer features like rendering graphs, performing layout algorithms, handling user interactions (e.g., dragging nodes, clicking edges), and manipulating graph data programmatically. They are widely used in data visualization, social network analysis, organizational charts, and any application that requires representing relationships between entities. Each library has its strengths, such as performance, ease of use, customization, and support for large datasets, making them suitable for different use cases.

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graphlib2,262,6761,701-366 years agoMIT
cytoscape2,050,09410,7115.67 MB243 months agoMIT
graphology704,4951,5262.73 MB8510 months agoMIT
vis-network270,6523,43382.9 MB3382 months ago(Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
Feature Comparison: graphlib vs cytoscape vs graphology vs vis-network

Graph Manipulation

  • graphlib:

    graphlib focuses on efficient graph manipulation, providing a simple API for adding and removing nodes and edges, as well as querying graph properties (e.g., neighbors, degree). It also includes algorithms for calculating shortest paths, performing depth-first and breadth-first traversals, and detecting cycles, making it suitable for algorithmic applications.

  • cytoscape:

    cytoscape provides extensive graph manipulation capabilities, including adding/removing nodes and edges, updating attributes, and performing complex operations like subgraph extraction and graph cloning. It also supports event handling for user interactions, allowing for dynamic updates and real-time manipulation of the graph.

  • graphology:

    graphology offers a comprehensive set of methods for graph manipulation, including adding/removing nodes and edges, updating attributes, and performing structural modifications. It also supports advanced operations like graph merging, splitting, and filtering, as well as a wide range of algorithms for analysis and manipulation, making it highly versatile for both visualization and data processing.

  • vis-network:

    vis-network provides basic graph manipulation features, such as adding and removing nodes and edges, updating attributes, and handling user interactions. However, it is primarily focused on visualization, so its manipulation capabilities are more limited compared to dedicated graph libraries. It supports real-time updates and interactions, allowing for dynamic changes during visualization.

Visualization Capabilities

  • graphlib:

    graphlib does not provide built-in visualization capabilities, as it is primarily focused on graph data structures and algorithms. However, it can be integrated with other visualization libraries to render graphs based on the data it manages. Its strength lies in its efficient handling of graph data, which can be leveraged by external tools for visualization.

  • cytoscape:

    cytoscape excels in graph visualization, offering highly customizable rendering with support for SVG, Canvas, and WebGL. It provides advanced layout algorithms, styling options (e.g., colors, shapes, labels), and support for animations and transitions. The library also allows for interactive features like zooming, panning, and dragging, making it suitable for complex and large-scale visualizations.

  • graphology:

    graphology provides basic visualization capabilities but is not a dedicated visualization library. It focuses on graph data management and analysis, allowing for integration with other visualization tools and frameworks. The library is designed to be modular, enabling developers to use its visualization features alongside other libraries for more advanced rendering and styling.

  • vis-network:

    vis-network is designed for interactive network visualization, providing an easy-to-use API for rendering graphs with minimal configuration. It supports dynamic layouts, animations, and basic styling, making it suitable for quick and simple visualizations. The library also allows for real-time updates and interactions, such as dragging nodes and zooming, which enhances the user experience.

Performance with Large Graphs

  • graphlib:

    graphlib is efficient in handling large graphs, particularly for graph manipulation and algorithmic operations. Its data structures are designed for quick access and modification, making it suitable for applications that require frequent updates and calculations on large graphs. However, it does not provide visualization, so performance considerations are primarily related to data processing.

  • cytoscape:

    cytoscape is optimized for performance with large graphs, but its efficiency depends on the complexity of the visualization and the number of elements. The library supports WebGL rendering for better performance with large datasets, and developers can implement techniques like lazy loading, clustering, and simplifying graphs to improve performance further.

  • graphology:

    graphology is designed with performance in mind, especially for handling large and complex graphs. Its data structures are optimized for fast manipulation and traversal, and the library supports efficient algorithms for analysis and processing. However, performance may vary depending on the specific operations and algorithms used, so it is important to consider the use case when working with large datasets.

  • vis-network:

    vis-network performs well with moderately sized graphs, but performance may degrade with very large datasets due to the limitations of DOM-based rendering. The library provides options for clustering and simplifying graphs to improve performance, but it is not as optimized for large-scale visualizations as some other libraries. For very large networks, additional performance tuning and optimization may be required.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

  • graphlib:

    Graph manipulation with graphlib

    const { Graph } = require('graphlib');
    
    // Create a new directed graph
    const g = new Graph({ directed: true });
    
    // Add nodes
     g.setNode('a');
    g.setNode('b');
    g.setNode('c');
    
    // Add edges
    g.setEdge('a', 'b');
    g.setEdge('b', 'c');
    
    // Get neighbors of a node
    const neighbors = g.neighbors('b');
    console.log('Neighbors of b:', neighbors);
    
    // Calculate shortest path
    const path = g.shortestPath('a', 'c');
    console.log('Shortest path from a to c:', path);
    
    // Remove a node
     g.removeNode('c');
    
    // Remove an edge
     g.removeEdge('a', 'b');
    
  • cytoscape:

    Basic graph manipulation and visualization with cytoscape

    const cy = cytoscape({
      container: document.getElementById('cy'),
      elements: [
        { data: { id: 'a' } },
        { data: { id: 'b' } },
        { data: { id: 'c' } },
        { data: { source: 'a', target: 'b' } },
        { data: { source: 'b', target: 'c' } },
      ],
      style: [
        { selector: 'node', style: { 'background-color': '#666', 'label': 'data(id)' } },
        { selector: 'edge', style: { 'width': 2, 'line-color': '#ccc' } },
      ],
      layout: { name: 'grid' },
    });
    
    // Add a new node and edge
    cy.add([{ data: { id: 'd' } }, { data: { source: 'c', target: 'd' } }]);
    
    // Remove a node
    cy.remove('#a');
    
    // Update node style
    cy.style().selector('#b').style({ 'background-color': 'red' }).update();
    
  • graphology:

    Graph manipulation and visualization with graphology

    import { Graph } from 'graphology';
    import { Sigma } from 'sigma';
    
    // Create a new graph
    const graph = new Graph();
    
    // Add nodes and edges
    graph.addNode('a', { label: 'Node A' });
    graph.addNode('b', { label: 'Node B' });
    graph.addEdge('a', 'b');
    
    // Visualize the graph with Sigma
    const container = document.getElementById('graph-container');
    const sigma = new Sigma(graph, container);
    
    // Manipulate the graph
    graph.addNode('c', { label: 'Node C' });
    graph.addEdge('b', 'c');
    
    // Update node attributes
    graph.updateNode('a', { label: 'Updated Node A' });
    
    // Remove a node
    graph.dropNode('c');
    
  • vis-network:

    Basic network visualization with vis-network

    const nodes = new vis.DataSet([
      { id: 1, label: 'Node 1' },
      { id: 2, label: 'Node 2' },
      { id: 3, label: 'Node 3' },
    ]);
    
    const edges = new vis.DataSet([
      { from: 1, to: 2 },
      { from: 2, to: 3 },
    ]);
    
    const container = document.getElementById('network');
    const data = { nodes, edges };
    const options = {};
    const network = new vis.Network(container, data, options);
    
    // Add a new node
    nodes.add({ id: 4, label: 'Node 4' });
    
    // Remove a node
    nodes.remove(2);
    
    // Update node label
    nodes.update({ id: 1, label: 'Updated Node 1' });
    
How to Choose: graphlib vs cytoscape vs graphology vs vis-network
  • graphlib:

    Choose graphlib if you need a lightweight library focused on graph data structures and algorithms. It is ideal for applications that require efficient graph manipulation, such as adding/removing nodes and edges, calculating shortest paths, or performing graph traversals, without the need for visualization.

  • cytoscape:

    Choose cytoscape if you need a feature-rich library for complex graph visualizations with support for large datasets, advanced layouts, and extensive customization options. It is suitable for applications that require high interactivity and detailed graph analysis.

  • graphology:

    Choose graphology if you need a versatile library for both graph manipulation and visualization, with a strong emphasis on performance and modularity. It is suitable for applications that require advanced graph algorithms, data analysis, and customizable visualization, while maintaining a small footprint.

  • vis-network:

    Choose vis-network if you need an easy-to-use library for creating interactive network visualizations with minimal setup. It is ideal for applications that require quick and simple graph rendering, with support for basic interactivity, animations, and a user-friendly API.

README for graphlib

Graphlib

Graphlib is a JavaScript library that provides data structures for undirected and directed multi-graphs along with algorithms that can be used with them.

Build Status

To learn more see our Wiki.

License

Graphlib is licensed under the terms of the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.