> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/highcharts/highcharts/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction to Highcharts

> Learn about Highcharts, a powerful JavaScript charting library for creating interactive and responsive data visualizations.

## What is Highcharts?

Highcharts is a JavaScript charting library based on SVG and some canvas/WebGL technologies. It enables you to create interactive, responsive, and accessible charts for web applications with minimal code.

<Note>
  Highcharts is a source-available product. For commercial use, you'll need a license. Visit [shop.highcharts.com](https://shop.highcharts.com/) for licensing details.
</Note>

## Key Features

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Pure JavaScript" icon="js">
    Highcharts is a standalone library with no dependencies on additional frameworks or plugins. It runs entirely in the browser using native technologies.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Responsive & Interactive" icon="chart-line">
    Charts automatically adapt to different screen sizes and support rich interactions like zooming, panning, and tooltips.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Wide Browser Support" icon="browsers">
    Compatible with all modern browsers including Chrome 1.0+, Firefox 2.0+, Safari 4.0+, Opera 9.0+, Edge 12.0+, and IE 9.0+.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Extensive Chart Types" icon="chart-pie">
    Supports 20+ chart types including line, area, column, bar, pie, scatter, and specialized types like heatmaps and treemaps.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Product Family

Highcharts offers several products built on the same core:

* **Highcharts Core** - Standard charts for data visualization
* **Highcharts Stock** - Advanced charts for financial data with time-series support
* **Highcharts Maps** - Geographic and map-based visualizations
* **Highcharts Gantt** - Project management and timeline charts
* **Highcharts Dashboards** - Complete dashboard solutions

<Note>
  Highcharts Stock, Maps, and Gantt all include the core Highcharts library, so you don't need to load both.
</Note>

## Why Choose Highcharts?

### No Dependencies

Highcharts is a standalone library that doesn't require any additional frameworks. However, it integrates seamlessly with popular frameworks:

* React and Vue integrations
* Native iOS and Android support
* Angular, Ember, and other framework wrappers

Visit the [integrations overview](https://www.highcharts.com/integrations/) for more information.

### Server Agnostic

As a front-end library, Highcharts works with any server that can serve static files. All core functionality runs in the browser, making it compatible with:

* Node.js / Express
* Python / Django / Flask
* Ruby on Rails
* PHP / Laravel
* Java / Spring
* .NET / ASP.NET
* Static site generators

### Performance Optimized

Highcharts efficiently handles large datasets using:

* SVG rendering for crisp, scalable graphics
* Canvas/WebGL rendering for performance-critical scenarios
* Tree shaking support to minimize bundle sizes
* Lazy loading capabilities

## System Requirements

Highcharts has minimal requirements:

* **Client-side**: Modern web browser with JavaScript enabled
* **Development**: Node.js 14.14.0+ (for npm installation)
* **No server-side processing required** for basic functionality

<Warning>
  For IE 11 and other legacy browsers, you must load Highcharts from the `es5` folder. See the [Installation](/installation) guide for details.
</Warning>

## What You'll Learn

This documentation will guide you through:

1. **Installation** - Multiple ways to add Highcharts to your project
2. **Quick Start** - Get up and running in minutes
3. **Your First Chart** - Step-by-step tutorial to create your first visualization
4. **Advanced Features** - Customization, theming, and advanced chart types

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Installation" icon="download" href="/installation">
    Choose the installation method that works best for your project
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quick Start" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Create your first chart in under 5 minutes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Your First Chart" icon="chart-simple" href="/your-first-chart">
    Follow a complete tutorial to build a working chart
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="book" href="/api/overview">
    Explore the complete Highcharts API documentation
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Community & Support

* **Official Website**: [www.highcharts.com](https://www.highcharts.com)
* **Support**: [www.highcharts.com/support](https://www.highcharts.com/support)
* **GitHub**: [github.com/highcharts/highcharts](https://github.com/highcharts/highcharts)
* **Stack Overflow**: Tag your questions with `highcharts`

<Note>
  Ready to get started? Head over to the [Installation](/installation) guide to add Highcharts to your project.
</Note>


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.