---
title: "Geom examples"
output: rmarkdown::html_vignette
vignette: >
%\VignetteIndexEntry{Geom examples}
%\VignetteEngine{knitr::rmarkdown}
%\VignetteEncoding{UTF-8}
---
```{r setup, include = FALSE}
knitr::opts_chunk$set(
collapse = TRUE,
comment = "#>",
eval = FALSE, # figures require a browser; set TRUE for local preview
out.width = "60%",
fig.align = "center",
fig.width = 7,
fig.height = 4,
message = FALSE,
warning = FALSE # optional
)
```
This vignette shows how to use each geometry in highdir.
Every example follows the same two-step workflow:
1. **`hd_spec()`** — describe *what* the data means (columns, labels)
2. **`hd_make()`** — decide *how* to render it (geom, backend, options)
```{r dataset}
#| echo: FALSE
#| eval: TRUE
alco1 <-
structure(list(year = 2012:2025, adj_mean = c(29.5688209339651,
26.3820822909097, 30.2479196947083, 24.9407936417249, 25.1552075711597,
27.7067665662493, 26.6906409447571, 25.4251533588897, 22.5086285695819,
25.7139807039743, 26.9308848055767, 26.2342670110855, 27.3435961548172,
26.1531628575368), SE = c(1.31401820814255, 0.898223842915541,
1.22017849767529, 0.957939144175014, 1.07138968311867, 0.953327936942322,
1.04394544742553, 0.982999807380581, 0.964926259096375, 1.06360056066082,
1.0789167751084, 1.04762055989223, 0.738525586449375, 0.807543719380914
), lower_95CI = c(26.991788087279, 24.6205796839981, 27.8550502174718,
23.0622482786227, 23.0540848610285, 25.837246795542, 24.6434098689602,
23.4974198595009, 20.6163601352583, 23.62820174148, 24.8149252900896,
24.1797904994535, 25.8957573623531, 24.569989140382), upper_95CI = c(32.1458537806512,
28.1435848978212, 32.6407891719448, 26.819339004827, 27.2563302812909,
29.5762863369565, 28.737872020554, 27.3528868582785, 24.4008970039054,
27.7997596664686, 29.0468443210639, 28.2887435227175, 28.7914349472813,
27.7363365746917), adj_enhet = c(19.7, 17.6, 20.2, 16.6, 16.8,
18.5, 17.8, 17, 15, 17.1, 18, 17.5, 18.2, 17.4), SE_enhet = c(0.9,
0.6, 0.8, 0.6, 0.7, 0.6, 0.7, 0.7, 0.6, 0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 0.5, 0.5
), lower_enhet = c(18, 16.4, 18.6, 15.4, 15.4, 17.2, 16.4, 15.7,
13.7, 15.8, 16.5, 16.1, 17.3, 16.4), upper_enhet = c(21.4, 18.8,
21.8, 17.9, 18.2, 19.7, 19.2, 18.2, 16.3, 18.5, 19.4, 18.9, 19.2,
18.5)), row.names = c(NA, 14L), class = "data.frame")
alco2 <-
structure(list(kjonn = c(1L, 2L, 2L, 1L, 2L, 1L, 1L, 2L, 1L,
2L, 1L, 2L, 1L, 2L, 2L, 1L, 1L, 2L, 1L, 2L, 2L, 1L, 2L, 1L, 1L,
2L, 1L, 2L), year = c(2012L, 2012L, 2013L, 2013L, 2014L, 2014L,
2015L, 2015L, 2016L, 2016L, 2017L, 2017L, 2018L, 2018L, 2019L,
2019L, 2020L, 2020L, 2021L, 2021L, 2022L, 2022L, 2023L, 2023L,
2024L, 2024L, 2025L, 2025L), adj_mean = c(39.9534494013342, 19.2158069961127,
16.2987229537047, 36.4366085172398, 20.4071713171405, 40.1218495785968,
33.5071360168995, 16.3684523600791, 33.7999998752251, 16.5144875220263,
34.0407778185931, 21.4046942833816, 34.4416520612159, 18.8811860315978,
18.8902437612744, 31.9644150234791, 28.3125963087005, 16.6742604519355,
34.6111331093157, 16.7988662922662, 17.7598442065029, 36.0934348693515,
18.1477985410825, 34.3912521953532, 35.4129728498304, 19.2754560917665,
33.5140480551725, 18.7864609065691), SE = c(2.37961465920224,
1.05842075962891, 0.805528008154603, 1.58875647328087, 1.31567166848581,
2.0546200666149, 1.63223247158945, 1.00102712568767, 1.93202810956404,
0.868936995947687, 1.49238954144028, 1.18378539463991, 1.72844402301913,
1.13242241796748, 0.926270989221471, 1.69287641926772, 1.66628519349481,
0.933798980264774, 1.86851200933237, 0.99289119454813, 0.97504817595482,
1.91289210595667, 1.04561834491425, 1.80516167675502, 1.1224943436911,
0.95929056172763, 1.40593962010721, 0.812443770607349), lower_95CI = c(35.2837640271632,
17.1387107311799, 14.7180739832502, 33.319140066092, 17.8255902148301,
36.0902209662603, 30.3044984625189, 14.404369655018, 30.0088950080673,
14.8093609774398, 31.1124633028755, 19.0819939701495, 31.0502826663131,
16.6591559746196, 17.0726142656199, 28.6428742031312, 25.0431691496594,
14.8419870446381, 30.9448270211324, 14.8506720256205, 15.8463948865644,
32.3395415558719, 16.096031819571, 30.8492011715321, 33.2118342823919,
17.3943660331341, 30.7569565608956, 17.1932864023274), upper_95CI = c(44.6231347755053,
21.2929032610456, 17.8793719241591, 39.5540769683877, 22.9887524194509,
44.1534781909332, 36.7097735712802, 18.3325350651401, 37.591104742383,
18.2196140666128, 36.9690923343106, 23.7273945966137, 37.8330214561187,
21.1032160885759, 20.7078732569288, 35.2859558438269, 31.5820234677416,
18.5065338592329, 38.277439197499, 18.7470605589119, 19.6732935264414,
39.8473281828311, 20.1995652625939, 37.9333032191744, 37.6141114172688,
21.1565461503989, 36.2711395494494, 20.3796354108107), adj_enhet = c(26.6,
12.8, 10.9, 24.3, 13.6, 26.7, 22.3, 10.9, 22.5, 11, 22.7, 14.3,
23, 12.6, 12.6, 21.3, 18.9, 11.1, 23.1, 11.2, 11.8, 24.1, 12.1,
22.9, 23.6, 12.9, 22.3, 12.5), SE_enhet = c(1.6, 0.7, 0.5, 1.1,
0.9, 1.4, 1.1, 0.7, 1.3, 0.6, 1, 0.8, 1.2, 0.8, 0.6, 1.1, 1.1,
0.6, 1.2, 0.7, 0.7, 1.3, 0.7, 1.2, 0.7, 0.6, 0.9, 0.5), lower_enhet = c(23.5,
11.4, 9.8, 22.2, 11.9, 24.1, 20.2, 9.6, 20, 9.9, 20.7, 12.7,
20.7, 11.1, 11.4, 19.1, 16.7, 9.9, 20.6, 9.9, 10.6, 21.6, 10.7,
20.6, 22.1, 11.6, 20.5, 11.5), upper_enhet = c(29.7, 14.2, 11.9,
26.4, 15.3, 29.4, 24.5, 12.2, 25.1, 12.1, 24.6, 15.8, 25.2, 14.1,
13.8, 23.5, 21.1, 12.3, 25.5, 12.5, 13.1, 26.6, 13.5, 25.3, 25.1,
14.1, 24.2, 13.6)), row.names = c(NA, 28L), class = "data.frame")
```
The same `hd_spec` object can be passed to `hd_make()` multiple times with
different geom types, backends, or `hd_opts()` objects — there is no need
to rebuild the spec.
```{r shared-data}
#| eval: TRUE
library(highdir)
# ── Age-group survey dataset (bars and pie) ────────────────────────────────────
survey <- data.frame(
age_group = rep(c("18-24", "25-34", "35-44", "45-54", "55-64"), each = 2),
kjonn = rep(c("Male", "Female"), times = 5),
pct = c(42, 38, 55, 61, 48, 52, 60, 57, 65, 70),
n = c(120, 115, 200, 210, 180, 175, 160, 155, 140, 145)
)
```
## Column chart
Column charts are the default geometry and work with both grouped and
ungrouped data.
The `n` column is shown in the highcharter tooltip alongside the percentage.
```{r column-grouped}
#| eval: TRUE
spec_col <- hd_spec(survey,
x = "age_group",
y = "pct",
group = "kjonn",
n = "n")
opts_col <- hd_opts(
title = "Alcohol use by age group and kjonn",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
ylim = c(0, 100),
yint = 20,
ylab = "Percentage (%)"
)
## Alternatively using ggplot2 syntax
# hd(survey, x = "age_group", y = "pct", group = "kjonn", n = "n") +
# hd_opts(title = "Alcohol use by age group and kjonn",
# subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
# ylim = c(0, 100),
# yint = 20,
# ylab = "Percentage (%)") +
# hd_geom_column()
```
### Interactive figure
```{r hc-column1}
#| eval: TRUE
# Interactive (default)
hd_make(spec_col, "column", opts_col)
# alternatively
# hd(spec_col) + hd_geom_column() + hd_opts(opts_col)
```
### Static figure
```{r gg-column1}
#| eval: TRUE
# Static ggplot2
hd_make(spec_col, "column", opts_col, backend = "ggplot2")
```
### Column with groups
```{r hd-column2}
#| eval: TRUE
# Horizontal bars — flip applies to both backends
opts_flip <- hd_opts(
title = "Alcohol use by age group and kjonn",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
ylim = c(0, 100),
flip = TRUE
)
hd_make(spec_col, "column", opts_flip)
```
```{r gg-column}
#| eval: TRUE
hd_make(spec_col, "column", opts_flip, backend = "ggplot2")
```
## Line chart
Line charts suit time-series data.
Use `smooth = TRUE` (default) for spline curves, or `FALSE` for straight
segments between points.
`dot_size` controls the marker radius.
```{r line-single}
#| eval: TRUE
# ── Time-series dataset (single group) ────────────────────────────────────────
# Annual alcohol consumption estimate with 95 % confidence interval.
# data("alco1")
# ── Time-series dataset (kjonn groups) ──────────────────────────────────────────
# data("alco2")
# Single series — no group column
spec_line1 <- hd_spec(alco1,
x = "year",
y = "adj_mean"
)
opts_line <- hd_opts(
title = "Alcohol consumption over time",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
ylim = c(0, 50),
ylab = "Litres per capita"
)
# Straight segments
hd_make(spec_line1, "line", opts_line, smooth = FALSE)
hd_make(spec_line1, "line", opts_line, smooth = FALSE, backend = "ggplot2")
```
### Interactive figure
```{r hc-line1}
#| eval: TRUE
# Spline (smooth) — default
hd_make(spec_line1, "line", opts_line)
```
### Static
```{r gg-line1}
#| eval: TRUE
# Spline (smooth) — default
hd_make(spec_line1, "line", opts_line, backend = "ggplot2")
```
```{r line-grouped}
# Grouped by kjonn
spec_line2 <- hd_spec(alco2,
x = "year",
y = "adj_mean",
group = "kjonn")
# Larger markers, straight lines
hd_make(spec_line2, "line", opts_line, smooth = FALSE, dot_size = 6)
hd_make(spec_line2, "line", opts_line, smooth = FALSE, dot_size = 6,
backend = "ggplot2")
# Highcharter only: custom per-group marker shapes
hd_make(spec_line2, "line", opts_line,
line_symbols = c("circle", "square"))
```
## Ranked bar chart
A ranked bar chart sorts bars by value so comparisons across categories are
immediate.
Use `ranked_bar` when the order of categories matters more than their nominal
labels - for example, ranking regions by a health indicator.
**Automatic label placement** is one of the key features of this geom.
In the ggplot2 backend, value labels are placed _inside_ a bar when the bar
is long enough to fit the text, and _outside_ when the bar is too short.
The cut-off is calculated per bar from the label character width relative to
the axis range, so the placement is fully automatic — no manual threshold
is needed.
```{r ranked-data}
#| eval: TRUE
# Regional health indicator dataset
regions <- data.frame(
region = c("Oslo", "Viken", "Vestland", "Rogaland",
"Trondelag", "Innlandet", "Agder",
"Nordland", "Troms og Finnmark"),
rate = c(68.4, 71.2, 87.8, 64.5, 61.3, 6.1, 54.2, 49.8, 42.1),
n = c(402, 448, 681, 318, 297, 251, 198, 177, 148)
)
```
```{r ranked-basic}
#| eval: TRUE
spec_rb <- hd_spec(regions,
x = "region",
y = "rate",
n = "n")
opts_rb <- hd_opts(
title = "Health indicator by region",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
ylab = "Rate per 100 000",
flip = TRUE
)
# Static ggplot2 — value labels placed inside or outside bars automatically
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, backend = "ggplot2")
```
```{r ranked-basic-hc}
# Interactive — default ascending order (lowest bar at bottom)
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb)
```
Pass `ascending = FALSE` to flip the sort order so the highest-ranked
category appears at the top:
```{r ranked-descending}
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, ascending = FALSE)
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, ascending = FALSE, backend = "ggplot2")
```
Use `aim` to draw a dashed reference line at a target value.
The line is drawn in a contrasting brand colour so it reads clearly
against the bars:
```{r gg-ranked-aim}
# Draw a dashed target line at rate = 60
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, aim = 60, backend = "ggplot2")
```
```{r hc-ranked-aim}
#| eval: TRUE
# Draw a dashed target line at rate = 60
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, aim = 60)
```
Use `vs` to highlight one specific category with a contrasting fill colour.
The argument accepts a partial string match against the `x` column, so
`vs = "Oslo"` will match `"Oslo"` exactly, and `vs = "Troms"` would match
`"Troms og Finnmark"`:
```{r ranked-vs}
# Highlight Oslo as the comparison reference
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, vs = "Oslo")
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, vs = "Oslo", backend = "ggplot2")
# Combine: descending order + target line + comparison highlight
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb,
ascending = FALSE,
aim = 60,
vs = "Oslo")
```
```{r ranked-vs-gg}
#| eval: TRUE
hd_make(spec_rb, "ranked_bar", opts_rb,
ascending = TRUE,
aim = 60,
vs = "Oslo",
backend = "ggplot2")
```
The `n` column in `hd_spec()` appends sample sizes to category labels in
the ggplot2 backend (`"Oslo (N=502)"`) and shows them in the highcharter
tooltip.
Omit `n` from `hd_spec()` if you do not want sample sizes displayed:
```{r ranked-no-n}
spec_rb_no_n <- hd_spec(regions,
x = "region",
y = "rate")
# No N= labels in ggplot2; no N line in HC tooltip
hd_make(spec_rb_no_n, "ranked_bar", opts_rb, backend = "ggplot2")
hd_make(spec_rb_no_n, "ranked_bar", opts_rb)
```
## Arearange chart
Arearange is designed for displaying a central estimate alongside a
confidence interval or min/max band.
`ymin` and `ymax` are **required** — they name the columns that define the
lower and upper bounds of the shaded band.
```{r arearange-single}
#| eval: TRUE
# Single series
spec_ar1 <- hd_spec(alco1,
x = "year",
y = "adj_enhet")
opts_ar <- hd_opts(
title = "Alcohol consumption with 95% CI",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
ylim = c(0, 30),
ylab = "Number of units alcohol"
)
```
### Interactive
```{r hc-area1}
#| eval: TRUE
hd_make(spec_ar1, "arearange", opts_ar,
ymin = "lower_enhet", ymax = "upper_enhet")
```
### Static
```{r gg-area1}
#| eval: TRUE
hd_make(spec_ar1, "arearange", opts_ar,
ymin = "lower_enhet", ymax = "upper_enhet", backend = "ggplot2")
```
```{r arearange-grouped}
#| eval: TRUE
# Grouped by kjonn
spec_ar2 <- hd_spec(alco2,
x = "year",
y = "adj_enhet",
group = "kjonn")
hd_make(spec_ar2, "arearange", opts_ar,
ymin = "lower_enhet", ymax = "upper_enhet")
```
```{r gg-area2}
hd_make(spec_ar2, "arearange", opts_ar,
ymin = "lower_95CI", ymax = "upper_95CI", backend = "ggplot2")
```
## Pie chart
Pie charts map one categorical column to slice labels and one numeric
column to slice values.
Pass `inner_size = "50%"` (or any CSS percentage) to draw a donut chart.
The `group` column is ignored for pie charts — use `x` for labels and `y`
for values.
```{r pie}
#| eval: TRUE
# Category share dataset (pie)
drinking_freq <- data.frame(
category = c("Never", "Rarely", "Monthly", "Weekly", "Daily"),
pct = c(18, 25, 30, 20, 7))
spec_pie <- hd_spec(drinking_freq,
x = "category",
y = "pct")
opts_pie <- hd_opts(
title = "Drinking frequency",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
ylab = "Share (%)"
)
```
### Donut
```{r hc-pie}
#| eval: TRUE
# Donut interactive
hd_make(spec_pie, "pie", opts_pie, inner_size = "50%")
```
```{r gg-pie}
# Donut static
hd_make(spec_pie, "pie", opts_pie, inner_size = "50%", backend = "ggplot2")
```
### Solid pie
```{r pie-solid}
# Solid pie
hd_make(spec_pie, "pie", opts_pie)
hd_make(spec_pie, "pie", opts_pie, backend = "ggplot2")
```
## Stacked column chart
Stacked column charts display multiple series grouped into named stacks.
Each stack is a separate pile of bars; series that share the same stack
accumulate on top of each other.
The data must be in **long format** with one row per `(x, group, stack)`
combination:
- `x` — the category axis (e.g. medal type)
- `y` — the numeric value
- `group` — the series label shown in the legend (e.g. country)
- `stack` — the column that assigns rows to a stack group (e.g. continent)
`stack` is a **required argument** passed via `...` in `hd_make()`.
```{r stacked-data}
#| eval: TRUE
# Olympics all-time medal table
olympics <- data.frame(
Country = c("Norway", "Norway", "Norway",
"Germany", "Germany", "Germany",
"United States", "United States", "United States",
"Canada", "Canada", "Canada"),
Continent = c("Europe", "Europe", "Europe",
"Europe", "Europe", "Europe",
"North America", "North America", "North America",
"North America", "North America", "North America"),
Medal = rep(c("Gold", "Silver", "Bronze"), times = 4),
Count = c(148, 133, 124,
102, 98, 65,
113, 122, 95,
77, 72, 80)
)
spec_st <- hd_spec(olympics,
x = "Medal",
y = "Count",
group = "Country")
opts_st <- hd_opts(
title = "Olympic Games all-time medal table, grouped by continent",
subtitle = "Source: Olympics",
ylab = "Count medals"
)
# Interactive — stacks are separated by continent
hd_make(spec_st, "stacked_column", opts_st, stack = "Continent")
```
```{r stacked-basic}
# Static ggplot2 — continents become facet panels
hd_make(spec_st, "stacked_column", opts_st,
stack = "Continent",
backend = "ggplot2")
```
The `stacking` argument controls how values accumulate.
`"normal"` (default) shows absolute values; `"percent"` rescales each
stack to 100 % so you can compare compositions across stacks:
```{r stacked-percent}
#| eval: TRUE
# 100% stacked — shows share within each continent, not absolute counts
hd_make(spec_st, "stacked_column", opts_st,
stack = "Continent",
stacking = "percent")
```
```{r stacked-percent-gg}
## Static
hd_make(spec_st, "stacked_column", opts_st,
stack = "Continent",
stacking = "percent",
backend = "ggplot2")
```
The same `hd_opts()` controls — title, axis labels, colours, and theme —
work identically for stacked columns as for every other geom:
```{r stacked-opts}
# Custom colour palette and Norwegian labels
opts_no <- hd_opts(
title = "Olympiske medaljer etter kontinent",
subtitle = "Kilde: OL-statistikk",
ylab = "Antall medaljer",
colors = c("#025169", "#7C145C", "#C68803", "#047FA4")
)
hd_make(spec_st, "stacked_column", opts_no, stack = "Continent")
hd_make(spec_st, "stacked_column", opts_no,
stack = "Continent",
backend = "ggplot2")
```
## Reusing a spec across geoms
Because `hd_spec()` and `hd_opts()` are separate from `hd_make()`, the
same data description can be rendered as any geometry — no code duplication.
```{r reuse}
# One spec, three geoms
spec_shared <- hd_spec(alco2,
x = "year",
y = "adj_mean",
group = "kjonn")
opts_shared <- hd_opts(
title = "Alcohol consumption by kjonn",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
ylim = c(0, 50),
ylab = "Litres per capita"
)
hd_make(spec_shared, "column", opts_shared)
hd_make(spec_shared, "line", opts_shared)
hd_make(spec_shared, "arearange", opts_shared,
ymin = "lower_95CI", ymax = "upper_95CI")
```
## Reusing opts across languages
An `hd_opts()` object only controls presentation.
Create one per language and pair it with the same spec.
```{r bilingual}
opts_no <- hd_opts(
title = "Alkoholbruk over tid",
subtitle = "Kilde: Helsedirektoratet",
caption = "Tall om alkohol",
ylim = c(0, 50)
)
opts_en <- hd_opts(
title = "Alcohol use over time",
subtitle = "Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health",
caption = "Annual health report",
ylim = c(0, 50)
)
spec_ts <- hd_spec(alco2,
x = "year",
y = "adj_mean",
group = "kjonn")
hd_make(spec_ts, "line", opts_no)
hd_make(spec_ts, "line", opts_en)
```
## Theming
Use `hd_set_theme()` once per session to apply a consistent visual style
across all figures.
Per-figure overrides are set via `hd_opts(hc_theme = ..., gg_theme = ...)`.
```{r theming}
# Session-wide defaults
hd_set_theme(
hc_theme = "gridlight",
gg_theme = "classic",
colors = c("#025169", "#7C145C", "#C68803")
)
hd_make(spec_ts, "line", opts_en)
hd_make(spec_ts, "line", opts_en, backend = "ggplot2")
# Per-figure override — does not change the session default
hd_make(spec_ts, "line",
hd_opts(title = "Dark theme", hc_theme = "darkunica"),
backend = "highcharter")
# Reset to package defaults
hd_set_theme(hc_theme = "default", gg_theme = "classic", colors = NULL)
```
## Saving figures
`hd_save()` exports highcharter figures to HTML or JSON and ggplot2
figures to PNG, SVG, or PDF.
The format is inferred from the file extension.
```{r save, eval = FALSE}
hc_fig <- hd_make(spec_ts, "line", opts_en)
gg_fig <- hd_make(spec_ts, "line", opts_en, backend = "ggplot2")
hd_save(hc_fig, "alcohol_line.html")
hd_save(hc_fig, "alcohol_line.json")
hd_save(gg_fig, "alcohol_line.png")
hd_save(gg_fig, "alcohol_line.svg")
```