# d3-chord
Visualize relationships or network flow with an aesthetically-pleasing circular layout.
[](https://observablehq.com/@d3/chord-diagram)
## Installing
If you use npm, `npm install d3-chord`. You can also download the [latest release on GitHub](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/releases/latest). For vanilla HTML in modern browsers, import d3-chord from Skypack:
```html
```
For legacy environments, you can load d3-chord’s UMD bundle from an npm-based CDN such as jsDelivr; a `d3` global is exported:
```html
```
## API Reference
# d3.chord() · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js)
Constructs a new chord layout with the default settings.
# chord(matrix) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js)
Computes the chord layout for the specified square *matrix* of size *n*×*n*, where the *matrix* represents the directed flow amongst a network (a complete digraph) of *n* nodes. The given *matrix* must be an array of length *n*, where each element *matrix*[*i*] is an array of *n* numbers, where each *matrix*[*i*][*j*] represents the flow from the *i*th node in the network to the *j*th node. Each number *matrix*[*i*][*j*] must be nonnegative, though it can be zero if there is no flow from node *i* to node *j*. From the [Circos tableviewer example](http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/circos/guide/tables/):
```js
const matrix = [
[11975, 5871, 8916, 2868],
[ 1951, 10048, 2060, 6171],
[ 8010, 16145, 8090, 8045],
[ 1013, 990, 940, 6907]
];
```
The return value of *chord*(*matrix*) is an array of *chords*, where each chord represents the combined bidirectional flow between two nodes *i* and *j* (where *i* may be equal to *j*) and is an object with the following properties:
* `source` - the source subgroup
* `target` - the target subgroup
Each source and target subgroup is also an object with the following properties:
* `startAngle` - the start angle in radians
* `endAngle` - the end angle in radians
* `value` - the flow value *matrix*[*i*][*j*]
* `index` - the node index *i*
The chords are typically passed to [d3.ribbon](#ribbon) to display the network relationships. The returned array includes only chord objects for which the value *matrix*[*i*][*j*] or *matrix*[*j*][*i*] is non-zero. Furthermore, the returned array only contains unique chords: a given chord *ij* represents the bidirectional flow from *i* to *j* *and* from *j* to *i*, and does not contain a duplicate chord *ji*; *i* and *j* are chosen such that the chord’s source always represents the larger of *matrix*[*i*][*j*] and *matrix*[*j*][*i*].
The *chords* array also defines a secondary array of length *n*, *chords*.groups, where each group represents the combined outflow for node *i*, corresponding to the elements *matrix*[*i*][0 … *n* - 1], and is an object with the following properties:
* `startAngle` - the start angle in radians
* `endAngle` - the end angle in radians
* `value` - the total outgoing flow value for node *i*
* `index` - the node index *i*
The groups are typically passed to [d3.arc](https://github.com/d3/d3-shape#arc) to produce a donut chart around the circumference of the chord layout.
# chord.padAngle([angle]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js)
If *angle* is specified, sets the pad angle between adjacent groups to the specified number in radians and returns this chord layout. If *angle* is not specified, returns the current pad angle, which defaults to zero.
# chord.sortGroups([compare]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js)
If *compare* is specified, sets the group comparator to the specified function or null and returns this chord layout. If *compare* is not specified, returns the current group comparator, which defaults to null. If the group comparator is non-null, it is used to sort the groups by their total outflow. See also [d3.ascending](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/README.md#ascending) and [d3.descending](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/README.md#descending).
# chord.sortSubgroups([compare]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js)
If *compare* is specified, sets the subgroup comparator to the specified function or null and returns this chord layout. If *compare* is not specified, returns the current subgroup comparator, which defaults to null. If the subgroup comparator is non-null, it is used to sort the subgroups corresponding to *matrix*[*i*][0 … *n* - 1] for a given group *i* by their total outflow. See also [d3.ascending](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/README.md#ascending) and [d3.descending](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/README.md#descending).
# chord.sortChords([compare]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js)
If *compare* is specified, sets the chord comparator to the specified function or null and returns this chord layout. If *compare* is not specified, returns the current chord comparator, which defaults to null. If the chord comparator is non-null, it is used to sort the [chords](#_chord) by their combined flow; this only affects the *z*-order of the chords. See also [d3.ascending](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/README.md#ascending) and [d3.descending](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/README.md#descending).
# d3.chordDirected() · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js), [Examples](https://observablehq.com/@d3/directed-chord-diagram)
A chord layout for directional flows. The chord from *i* to *j* is generated from the value in *matrix*[*i*][*j*] only.
# d3.chordTranspose() · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/chord.js)
A transposed chord layout. Useful to highlight outgoing (rather than incoming) flows.
# d3.ribbon() · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
Creates a new ribbon generator with the default settings.
# ribbon(arguments…) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
Generates a ribbon for the given *arguments*. The *arguments* are arbitrary; they are simply propagated to the ribbon generator’s accessor functions along with the `this` object. For example, with the default settings, a [chord object](#_chord) expected:
```js
const ribbon = d3.ribbon();
ribbon({
source: {startAngle: 0.7524114, endAngle: 1.1212972, radius: 240},
target: {startAngle: 1.8617078, endAngle: 1.9842927, radius: 240}
}); // "M164.0162810494058,-175.21032946354026A240,240,0,0,1,216.1595644740915,-104.28347273835429Q0,0,229.9158815306728,68.8381247563705A240,240,0,0,1,219.77316791012538,96.43523560788266Q0,0,164.0162810494058,-175.21032946354026Z"
```
Or equivalently if the radius is instead defined as a constant:
```js
const ribbon = d3.ribbon()
.radius(240);
ribbon({
source: {startAngle: 0.7524114, endAngle: 1.1212972},
target: {startAngle: 1.8617078, endAngle: 1.9842927}
}); // "M164.0162810494058,-175.21032946354026A240,240,0,0,1,216.1595644740915,-104.28347273835429Q0,0,229.9158815306728,68.8381247563705A240,240,0,0,1,219.77316791012538,96.43523560788266Q0,0,164.0162810494058,-175.21032946354026Z"
```
If the ribbon generator has a context, then the ribbon is rendered to this context as a sequence of path method calls and this function returns void. Otherwise, a path data string is returned.
# ribbon.source([source]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *source* is specified, sets the source accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *source* is not specified, returns the current source accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function source(d) {
return d.source;
}
```
# ribbon.target([target]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *target* is specified, sets the target accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *target* is not specified, returns the current target accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function target(d) {
return d.target;
}
```
# ribbon.radius([radius]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *radius* is specified, sets the source and target radius accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *radius* is not specified, returns the current source radius accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function radius(d) {
return d.radius;
}
```
# ribbon.sourceRadius([radius]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *radius* is specified, sets the source radius accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *radius* is not specified, returns the current source radius accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function radius(d) {
return d.radius;
}
```
# ribbon.targetRadius([radius]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *radius* is specified, sets the target radius accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *radius* is not specified, returns the current target radius accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function radius(d) {
return d.radius;
}
```
By convention, the target radius in asymmetric chord diagrams is typically inset from the source radius, resulting in a gap between the end of the directed link and its associated group arc.
# ribbon.startAngle([angle]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *angle* is specified, sets the start angle accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *angle* is not specified, returns the current start angle accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function startAngle(d) {
return d.startAngle;
}
```
The *angle* is specified in radians, with 0 at -*y* (12 o’clock) and positive angles proceeding clockwise.
# ribbon.endAngle([angle]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *angle* is specified, sets the end angle accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *angle* is not specified, returns the current end angle accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function endAngle(d) {
return d.endAngle;
}
```
The *angle* is specified in radians, with 0 at -*y* (12 o’clock) and positive angles proceeding clockwise.
# ribbon.padAngle([angle]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *angle* is specified, sets the pad angle accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *angle* is not specified, returns the current pad angle accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function padAngle() {
return 0;
}
```
The pad angle specifies the angular gap between adjacent ribbons.
# ribbon.context([context]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *context* is specified, sets the context and returns this ribbon generator. If *context* is not specified, returns the current context, which defaults to null. If the context is not null, then the [generated ribbon](#_ribbon) is rendered to this context as a sequence of [path method](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#canvaspathmethods) calls. Otherwise, a [path data](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathData) string representing the generated ribbon is returned. See also [d3-path](https://github.com/d3/d3-path).
# d3.ribbonArrow() · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
Creates a new arrow ribbon generator with the default settings.
# ribbonArrow.headRadius([radius]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-chord/blob/master/src/ribbon.js)
If *radius* is specified, sets the arrowhead radius accessor to the specified function and returns this ribbon generator. If *radius* is not specified, returns the current arrowhead radius accessor, which defaults to:
```js
function headRadius() {
return 10;
}
```