Tableau is a data visualization software that connects easily to the majority of databases be it corporate Data Warehouse, Microsoft Excel or web-based data and allows for instantaneous insights by transforming data into visually appealing, interactive visualizations called dashboards. It is a Business Intelligence tool with drag and drop interface which makes it fast and easy to use.
D3.js is a Javascript library for creating data visualizations in the browser and is built on top of common web standards like HTML, CSS, and SVG. D3.js helps you attach your data to DOM (Document Object Model) elements. Then you can use CSS3, HTML, and/or SVG showcase this data. Finally, you can make the data interactive through the use of D3.js data-driven transformations and transitions.
Differences between Tableau and D3.js:
- Tableau: It is a proprietary tool and can be expensive if not using the basic Desktop Application.
- D3.js: It is a free and open-source tool.
- Tableau:Development time of dashboard is in minutes due to it drag and drop interface. Learning it becomes hassle-free.
- D3.js: Development time can be from hours to days as hard coding is required and can be difficult to learn without prior knowledge of web development tools and languages.
- Tableau: By applying user filter or row level security feature, restricted data access can be provided to different users.
- D3.js: Concealing data from User can be accomplished but restricted access among different users in difficult to achieve.
- Tableau: Variety of built-in charts and maps are available to utilize but out of box visualizations are not possible.
- D3.js: Any imaginable visualization which is codeable is possible, but every chart has to be built from scratch.
- Tableau: It is able to identify dimensions and measures and can handle gigabytes of data.
- D3.js: It is struggle to handle large datasets of gigabytes in size.
Use Cases & Key factors:
- Tableau: Internal Analytics Platform, Public Data Viz work, Need Answer fast, Speed to delivery, for internal use and great visualizations.
- D3.js: Public Data Viz Work, Embedding into a product, real-time interactive web, control over display, for external use and great visualizations.
We can conclude that for quick and easy visualizations involving commonly used charts and maps, Tableau is suited and D3.js can be utilised when there are extraordinary charting requirements or high interactivity requisites.
Source: http://www.je-lks.org/ojs/index.php/Je-LKS_EN/article/view/1128/1030