# Formatting

# Data Transformation

Data values are converted to string ('' + value). If value is an object, the following rules apply first:

  • value = value.label if defined and not null
  • else value = value.r if defined and not null
  • else value = 'key[0]: value[key[0]], key[1]: value[key[1]], ...'

This default behavior can be overridden thanks to the formatter option. It accepts a function called for every data and that takes two arguments:

  • value: the current data value
  • context: contextual information (see option context)

Example:

formatter: function(value, context) {
  return context.dataIndex + ': ' + Math.round(value*100) + '%';
}

// label for data at index 0 with value 0.23: "0: 23%"
// label for data at index 1 with value 0.42: "1: 42%"
// ...

TIP

The first argument being the value, you can directly use generic methods:

formatter: Math.round
formatter: Math.floor
formatter: Math.ceil
// ...

# Custom Labels

It's also possible to display text other than the data values, for example, the associated labels:

new Chart('id', {
  type: 'bar',
  data: {
    labels: ['foo', 'bar'],
    datasets: [{
      data: [42, 24]
    }]
  },
  options: {
    plugins: {
      datalabels: {
        formatter: function(value, context) {
          return context.chart.data.labels[context.dataIndex];
        }
      }
    }
  }
});

// label for data at index 0: "foo"
// label for data at index 1: "bar"
// ...

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chart.data.labels is given as an example but it works with any source:

context.dataset.data[context.dataIndex].label;  // labels in each data object
context.dataset.labels[context.dataIndex];      // labels store in the dataset
globalLabels[context.dataIndex];                // labels store outside the chart
// ...

# Multiline Labels

Labels can be displayed on multiple lines by using the newline character (\n) between each line or by providing an array of strings where each item represents a new line.

Example:

formatter: function(value) {
  return 'line1\nline2\n' + value;
  // eq. return ['line1', 'line2', value]
}

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The space between each line can be adjusted using the font.lineHeight option.

# Text Alignment

The textAlign option only applies to multiline labels and specifies the text alignment being used when drawing the label text (see CanvasRenderingContext2D.textAlign (opens new window)). Note that right-to-left text detection based on the current locale is not currently implemented.

Supported values for textAlign:

  • 'start' (default): the text is left-aligned
  • 'center': the text is centered
  • 'end': the text is right-aligned
  • 'left': alias of 'start'
  • 'right': alias of 'end'