Question 1

Chroma.js vs D3.js for color scales – which should I use?

Accepted Answer

Chroma.js is better for lightweight, focused color manipulation with zero dependencies, while D3.js offers broader visualization tools but is larger. Use Chroma.js if you only need color operations without D3's overhead.

Question 2

How to create a logarithmic color scale with Chroma.js?

Accepted Answer

Use the .domain() method with 'log' mode, as shown in the README example: chroma.scale(['lightyellow', 'navy']).domain([1, 100000], 7, 'log'). This generates scales based on logarithmic data distribution.

Question 3

Is Chroma.js still actively maintained?

Accepted Answer

The FAQ indicates it's not dead but has infrequent commits, meaning bugs are fixed slowly. It's stable for core features, but don't expect rapid updates or new additions.

Question 4

How to use Chroma.js with React or Vue components?

Accepted Answer

Import Chroma.js as a module and call its functions within component logic; it's framework-agnostic. For example, use chroma.scale() in computed properties or effects to dynamically set colors.

Question 5

Does Chroma.js support color accessibility checks like contrast ratios?

Accepted Answer

No, Chroma.js focuses on manipulation and scales, not accessibility metrics. You'd need additional libraries or custom code to calculate contrast ratios for WCAG compliance.

Question 6

What are the performance implications of Lab interpolation in Chroma.js?

Accepted Answer

Lab interpolation is more computationally intensive than RGB but ensures perceptual uniformity. For most web apps, it's fine, but test with large datasets as it might slow down real-time updates.

Chroma.js

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