Binding an array as data
One of the most common and popular ways to define data in D3 visualization is through the use of JavaScript arrays. For example, say you have multiple data elements stored in an array, and you want to generate corresponding visual elements to represent each and every one of them. Additionally, when the data array gets updated, you want your visualization to reflect such changes immediately. In this recipe, we will accomplish this common approach.
Getting Ready
Open your local copy of the following file in your web browser:
https://github.com/NickQiZhu/d3-cookbook/blob/master/src/chapter3/array-as-data.html
How to do it...
The first and most natural solution that might come to mind is iterating through the data array elements and generating their corresponding visual elements on the page. This is definitely a valid solution and it will work with D3, however, the enter-update-exit pattern we discussed in the introduction provides a much easier and more efficient way...
