Building with KeyLines

Build high performance graph visualization tools quickly

How does KeyLines work?

KeyLines is a JavaScript software development kit (SDK). You can use the technology to quickly build network visualization web components to embed in your applications.

These components use WebGL and HTML5 Canvas for fast performance, and harness a powerful event model and API of functionality to help make sense of data connections.

With detailed API documentation to help you, and a team of KeyLines developers providing support, it’s easy for you to build the custom visualization applications your users want.

Download the white paper

Why Build with KeyLines?

Designed for performance

Every aspect of KeyLines is built for performance.

It uses fast, lightweight JavaScript, plus WebGL and HTML5 Canvas for powerful rendering across all browsers. Carefully optimized graph algorithms mean it can handle your biggest datasets.

Built for developers

We’ve designed KeyLines with a developer’s needs in mind.

The documentation is easy to follow and features example source code. If you need help, our developers provide expert support and guidance.

KeyLines is compatible with any IT environment

It works in your existing environment

We’ve worked hard to ensure KeyLines apps ‘just work’ in any setup.

You can keep your existing servers and code in your preferred JavaScript framework. We also have integration guides to help you connect to your favorite database.

A powerful API

KeyLines includes a fully-documented API of functionality including real-time, dynamic and geospatial network support.

We run to a frequent release cycle, with multiple releases each year, plus patches in between for enhancements and fixes.

Want to know more?

See our developer FAQ

Use your favorite JavaScript framework

Quick start guides and detailed demos help you get KeyLines up and running with your favorite JavaScript framework.

Using React? Check out ReGraph

Lightweight and scalable

KeyLines is a front-end application that works seamlessly with any IT environment, so there’s no need to change your existing setup. You choose where to host it.

Fully agnostic, KeyLines works with virtually any data repository and your data never leaves your trusted network. For even stronger security between server and web browser, simply set up secure channel using SSL.

There’s no need for specialist visualization servers because KeyLines manages rendering at the front end. Even better: there are no compulsory external dependencies or plugins to install.

The architecture of a KeyLines application

KeyLines architecture

Any browser, any device

KeyLines works in all major browsers on desktops, tablets or cell phones.

Supported browsers and devices

Trusted by developers

KeyLines has been deployed into hundreds of high profile applications around the world.

Meet our customers

KeyLines, a stable and flexible graphing framework, empowered us to focus on our product layer while offloading technical graphing complexities. Along with their great personal support, KeyLines is our go-to solution.

Nathan Braslavski, Data Visualization Lead at Blockchain Intelligence Group

How the API works

Step 1: Download KeyLines

Follow our instructions to add KeyLines to your new or existing JavaScript project.

Step 2: Connect to your data source

KeyLines is database agnostic, so you choose whatever datastore you want.

Step 3: Customize chart actions

Demos and a fully-documented API make it easy to work with every object, function, event and option.

//     Copyright © 2011-2024 Cambridge Intelligence Limited. 
//     All rights reserved
//     Sample Code - Exploring graph data in the time bar.

window.onload = async () => {
  KeyLines.promisify();
  const [chart, timebar] = await KeyLines.create([
    { container: 'kl', type: 'chart' },
    { container: 'tl', type: 'timebar' }
  ]);

  // load data into both the time bar and the chart 
  timebar.load(data);
  timebar.zoom('fit');

  chart.load(data);
  chart.layout();

  // When the time bar range changes
  timebar.on('change', async () => {
    // filter the chart to show only items in the new range
    await chart.filter(timebar.inRange);
    // and then adjust the chart's layout
    chart.layout(‘organic’, {mode: ‘adaptive’});
  });
};