What Is Pygal? A Python Charting Library for SVG Charts

Updated

Pygal is a Python charting library for building charts programmatically with minimal code. You use it when you want to turn data into a chart inside a Python script or application, and you want the output to be a scalable SVG rather than a raster image. The library is documented at pygal.org and is maintained by Kozea as an open-source project.

What Pygal does

Pygal's stated purpose is "beautiful python charting" and "simple python charting." The core workflow is small: pick a chart type, feed it data, and render.

The documentation's own example shows the pattern:

pygal.Bar()(1, 3, 3, 7)(1, 6, 6, 4).render()

Read that in three steps:

  1. pygal.Bar() creates a bar chart object.
  2. Each call with values adds a data series — here two series, (1, 3, 3, 7) and (1, 6, 6, 4).
  3. .render() produces the chart output.

The input is your numeric data; the action is choosing a chart type and adding series; the expected result is a rendered chart you can embed or save.

Why SVG matters

Pygal renders charts as SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics). That has practical consequences:

  • Scalable — SVG is vector-based, so it stays sharp when resized, unlike a fixed-resolution PNG.
  • Web-friendly — SVG is a standard browser format, so charts can be placed directly in web pages.
  • Text-based — SVG is markup, so it can be styled, embedded, and manipulated like other web content.

If you need a raster image for print or a specific pipeline, that is a different requirement than what Pygal is built around.

When Pygal is a good fit

Your situation Pygal fits?
You want charts generated from Python with little code Yes — the API is deliberately terse
You need scalable, web-embeddable output Yes — SVG is the native output
You want an open-source library Yes — it is a Kozea project
You need a chart type or output format not covered by the library Check the API index in the docs first

Where to go next

The pygal.org documentation is organized into these sections:

  • Documentation — the main usage guide
  • Installing — how to get Pygal set up
  • Contributing — how to take part in the project
  • Changelog — what changed between versions
  • API Index and Module Index — reference material for specific classes and functions

The documentation shown is for Pygal 3.0.5. Start with the Documentation overview, then use the API Index when you need details on a specific chart type or method.