Sunburst Chart

A sunburst chart shows hierarchical composition as concentric rings: the inner ring breaks the total into categories, and the outer ring splits each category into its subcategories. Use it to answer "what makes up the total, and what makes up each part?" in one view, such as revenue by product line and product, or tickets by team and ticket type.

Two-level hierarchy

CustomChartDef sunburst_chart {
  label: 'Sunburst Chart'
  description: "A sunburst chart shows hierarchical composition as concentric rings, with each level of the hierarchy radiating outward."
  fields {
    field category {
      type: 'dimension'
      label: 'Category (inner ring)'
    }
    field subcategory {
      type: 'dimension'
      label: 'Subcategory (outer ring)'
    }
    field value {
      type: 'measure'
      label: 'Value'
    }
  }
  options {
    option color_scheme {
      type: 'select'
      label: 'Color scheme'
      options: ['tableau10', 'category10', 'accent', 'dark2', 'paired', 'set2']
      default_value: 'tableau10'
    }
    option donut_hole {
      type: 'select'
      label: 'Center hole size'
      options: [0, 0.2, 0.35, 0.5]
      default_value: 0.35
    }
  }
  template: @vg {
    "$schema": "https://vega.github.io/schema/vega/v5.json",
    "description": "Sunburst chart of a two-level hierarchy, built from stacked angles.",
    "autosize": "none",
    "padding": 0,
    "signals": [
      {
        "name": "width",
        "init": "containerSize()[0] - 5",
        "on": [{ "events": "window:resize", "update": "containerSize()[0] - 5" }]
      },
      {
        "name": "height",
        "init": "containerSize()[1] - 5",
        "on": [{ "events": "window:resize", "update": "containerSize()[1] - 5" }]
      },
      {"name": "radius", "update": "min(width, height) / 2"},
      {"name": "holeR", "update": "radius * @{options.donut_hole.value}"},
      {"name": "ringSplit", "update": "holeR + (radius - holeR) * 0.55"},
      {"name": "grandTotal", "update": "length(data('cats')) ? data('cats')[0].total : 0"},
      {
        "name": "hovered",
        "value": null,
        "on": [
          {
            "events": "@catArc:mouseover",
            "update": "{kind: 'category', category: datum.category, label: datum.category, amount: datum.amount, share: datum.amount / datum.total}"
          },
          {
            "events": "@leafArc:mouseover",
            "update": "{kind: 'subcategory', category: datum.category, label: datum.subcategory, amount: datum.amount, share: datum.amount / datum.total}"
          },
          {"events": "@catArc:mouseout, @leafArc:mouseout", "update": "null"}
        ]
      }
    ],
    "data": [
      {
        "name": "leaves",
        "values": @{values},
        "transform": [
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum['@{fields.category.name}']", "as": "category"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum['@{fields.subcategory.name}']", "as": "subcategory"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum['@{fields.value.name}']", "as": "amount"},
          {"type": "filter", "expr": "datum.amount != null && datum.amount > 0"},
          {
            "type": "aggregate",
            "groupby": ["category", "subcategory"],
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["amount"]
          },
          {"type": "collect", "sort": {"field": ["category", "subcategory"]}},
          {
            "type": "stack",
            "field": "amount",
            "as": ["s0", "s1"]
          },
          {
            "type": "joinaggregate",
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["total"]
          },
          {
            "type": "joinaggregate",
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["cat_total"],
            "groupby": ["category"]
          },
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s0 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a0"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s1 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a1"}
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "cats",
        "source": "leaves",
        "transform": [
          {
            "type": "aggregate",
            "groupby": ["category"],
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["amount"]
          },
          {"type": "collect", "sort": {"field": "category"}},
          {
            "type": "stack",
            "field": "amount",
            "as": ["s0", "s1"]
          },
          {
            "type": "joinaggregate",
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["total"]
          },
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s0 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a0"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s1 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a1"}
        ]
      }
    ],
    "scales": [
      {
        "name": "color",
        "type": "ordinal",
        "domain": {"data": "cats", "field": "category"},
        "range": {"scheme": @{options.color_scheme.value}}
      }
    ],
    "marks": [
      {
        "type": "arc",
        "name": "catArc",
        "from": {"data": "cats"},
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2"},
            "startAngle": {"field": "a0"},
            "endAngle": {"field": "a1"},
            "innerRadius": {"signal": "holeR"},
            "outerRadius": {"signal": "ringSplit"},
            "fill": {"scale": "color", "field": "category"},
            "fillOpacity": {
              "signal": "hovered === null || hovered.category === datum.category ? 1 : 0.3"
            },
            "stroke": {"value": "white"},
            "strokeWidth": {"value": 1.5},
            "tooltip": {
              "signal": "{'Category': datum.category, 'Value': format(datum.amount, ','), 'Share of Total': format(datum.amount / datum.total, '.1%')}"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "arc",
        "name": "leafArc",
        "from": {"data": "leaves"},
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2"},
            "startAngle": {"field": "a0"},
            "endAngle": {"field": "a1"},
            "innerRadius": {"signal": "ringSplit + 1"},
            "outerRadius": {"signal": "radius"},
            "fill": {"scale": "color", "field": "category"},
            "fillOpacity": {
              "signal": "hovered === null ? 0.7 : (hovered.category !== datum.category ? 0.2 : (hovered.kind === 'subcategory' && hovered.label === datum.subcategory ? 1 : 0.75))"
            },
            "stroke": {"value": "white"},
            "strokeWidth": {"value": 1},
            "tooltip": {
              "signal": "{'Subcategory': datum.subcategory, 'Category': datum.category, 'Value': format(datum.amount, ','), 'Share of Total': format(datum.amount / datum.total, '.1%'), 'Share of Category': format(datum.amount / datum.cat_total, '.1%')}"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "text",
        "interactive": false,
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2 - 14"},
            "align": {"value": "center"},
            "text": {"signal": "hovered === null ? 'Total' : hovered.label"},
            "limit": {"signal": "holeR * 1.7"},
            "fontSize": {"value": 13},
            "fontWeight": {"value": 600},
            "fill": {"value": "#374151"},
            "opacity": {"signal": "holeR > 30 ? 1 : 0"}
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "text",
        "interactive": false,
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2 + 8"},
            "align": {"value": "center"},
            "text": {"signal": "format(hovered === null ? grandTotal : hovered.amount, ',')"},
            "fontSize": {"value": 16},
            "fontWeight": {"value": 700},
            "fill": {"value": "#111827"},
            "opacity": {"signal": "holeR > 30 ? 1 : 0"}
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "text",
        "interactive": false,
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2 + 28"},
            "align": {"value": "center"},
            "text": {"signal": "hovered === null ? '' : format(hovered.share, '.1%') + ' of total'"},
            "fontSize": {"value": 11},
            "fill": {"value": "#6b7280"},
            "opacity": {"signal": "holeR > 30 ? 1 : 0"}
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  };;
}

Three-level hierarchy

The same chart with one more ring: category, subcategory, then item (for example, product line, product, then variant). Works best when the outer ring has a manageable number of slices; beyond a few dozen items the tooltips remain usable but the slices get thin.

CustomChartDef sunburst_chart_three_level {
  label: 'Sunburst Chart (3 levels)'
  description: "A sunburst chart with three rings showing a category, subcategory, and item hierarchy as nested composition."
  fields {
    field category {
      type: 'dimension'
      label: 'Category (inner ring)'
    }
    field subcategory {
      type: 'dimension'
      label: 'Subcategory (middle ring)'
    }
    field item {
      type: 'dimension'
      label: 'Item (outer ring)'
    }
    field value {
      type: 'measure'
      label: 'Value'
    }
  }
  options {
    option color_scheme {
      type: 'select'
      label: 'Color scheme'
      options: ['tableau10', 'category10', 'accent', 'dark2', 'paired', 'set2']
      default_value: 'tableau10'
    }
    option donut_hole {
      type: 'select'
      label: 'Center hole size'
      options: [0, 0.2, 0.35, 0.5]
      default_value: 0.35
    }
  }
  template: @vg {
    "$schema": "https://vega.github.io/schema/vega/v5.json",
    "description": "Three-ring sunburst built from stacked angles.",
    "autosize": "none",
    "padding": 0,
    "signals": [
      {
        "name": "width",
        "init": "containerSize()[0] - 5",
        "on": [{ "events": "window:resize", "update": "containerSize()[0] - 5" }]
      },
      {
        "name": "height",
        "init": "containerSize()[1] - 5",
        "on": [{ "events": "window:resize", "update": "containerSize()[1] - 5" }]
      },
      {"name": "radius", "update": "min(width, height) / 2"},
      {"name": "holeR", "update": "radius * @{options.donut_hole.value}"},
      {"name": "ring1End", "update": "holeR + (radius - holeR) * 0.38"},
      {"name": "ring2End", "update": "holeR + (radius - holeR) * 0.7"},
      {"name": "grandTotal", "update": "length(data('cats')) ? data('cats')[0].total : 0"},
      {
        "name": "hovered",
        "value": null,
        "on": [
          {
            "events": "@catArc:mouseover",
            "update": "{kind: 'category', category: datum.category, subcategory: null, label: datum.category, amount: datum.amount, share: datum.amount / datum.total}"
          },
          {
            "events": "@subArc:mouseover",
            "update": "{kind: 'subcategory', category: datum.category, subcategory: datum.subcategory, label: datum.subcategory, amount: datum.amount, share: datum.amount / datum.total}"
          },
          {
            "events": "@leafArc:mouseover",
            "update": "{kind: 'item', category: datum.category, subcategory: datum.subcategory, label: datum.item, amount: datum.amount, share: datum.amount / datum.total}"
          },
          {"events": "@catArc:mouseout, @subArc:mouseout, @leafArc:mouseout", "update": "null"}
        ]
      }
    ],
    "data": [
      {
        "name": "leaves",
        "values": @{values},
        "transform": [
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum['@{fields.category.name}']", "as": "category"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum['@{fields.subcategory.name}']", "as": "subcategory"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum['@{fields.item.name}']", "as": "item"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum['@{fields.value.name}']", "as": "amount"},
          {"type": "filter", "expr": "datum.amount != null && datum.amount > 0"},
          {
            "type": "aggregate",
            "groupby": ["category", "subcategory", "item"],
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["amount"]
          },
          {"type": "collect", "sort": {"field": ["category", "subcategory", "item"]}},
          {"type": "stack", "field": "amount", "as": ["s0", "s1"]},
          {"type": "joinaggregate", "fields": ["amount"], "ops": ["sum"], "as": ["total"]},
          {
            "type": "joinaggregate",
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["sub_total"],
            "groupby": ["category", "subcategory"]
          },
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s0 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a0"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s1 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a1"}
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "subs",
        "source": "leaves",
        "transform": [
          {
            "type": "aggregate",
            "groupby": ["category", "subcategory"],
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["amount"]
          },
          {"type": "collect", "sort": {"field": ["category", "subcategory"]}},
          {"type": "stack", "field": "amount", "as": ["s0", "s1"]},
          {"type": "joinaggregate", "fields": ["amount"], "ops": ["sum"], "as": ["total"]},
          {
            "type": "joinaggregate",
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["cat_total"],
            "groupby": ["category"]
          },
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s0 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a0"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s1 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a1"}
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "cats",
        "source": "leaves",
        "transform": [
          {
            "type": "aggregate",
            "groupby": ["category"],
            "fields": ["amount"],
            "ops": ["sum"],
            "as": ["amount"]
          },
          {"type": "collect", "sort": {"field": "category"}},
          {"type": "stack", "field": "amount", "as": ["s0", "s1"]},
          {"type": "joinaggregate", "fields": ["amount"], "ops": ["sum"], "as": ["total"]},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s0 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a0"},
          {"type": "formula", "expr": "datum.s1 / datum.total * 2 * PI", "as": "a1"}
        ]
      }
    ],
    "scales": [
      {
        "name": "color",
        "type": "ordinal",
        "domain": {"data": "cats", "field": "category"},
        "range": {"scheme": @{options.color_scheme.value}}
      }
    ],
    "marks": [
      {
        "type": "arc",
        "name": "catArc",
        "from": {"data": "cats"},
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2"},
            "startAngle": {"field": "a0"},
            "endAngle": {"field": "a1"},
            "innerRadius": {"signal": "holeR"},
            "outerRadius": {"signal": "ring1End"},
            "fill": {"scale": "color", "field": "category"},
            "fillOpacity": {
              "signal": "hovered === null || hovered.category === datum.category ? 1 : 0.3"
            },
            "stroke": {"value": "white"},
            "strokeWidth": {"value": 1.5},
            "tooltip": {
              "signal": "{'Category': datum.category, 'Value': format(datum.amount, ','), 'Share of Total': format(datum.amount / datum.total, '.1%')}"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "arc",
        "name": "subArc",
        "from": {"data": "subs"},
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2"},
            "startAngle": {"field": "a0"},
            "endAngle": {"field": "a1"},
            "innerRadius": {"signal": "ring1End + 1"},
            "outerRadius": {"signal": "ring2End"},
            "fill": {"scale": "color", "field": "category"},
            "fillOpacity": {
              "signal": "hovered === null ? 0.85 : (hovered.category !== datum.category ? 0.2 : (hovered.subcategory === null ? 0.9 : (hovered.subcategory === datum.subcategory ? 1 : 0.5)))"
            },
            "stroke": {"value": "white"},
            "strokeWidth": {"value": 1.2},
            "tooltip": {
              "signal": "{'Subcategory': datum.subcategory, 'Category': datum.category, 'Value': format(datum.amount, ','), 'Share of Total': format(datum.amount / datum.total, '.1%'), 'Share of Category': format(datum.amount / datum.cat_total, '.1%')}"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "arc",
        "name": "leafArc",
        "from": {"data": "leaves"},
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2"},
            "startAngle": {"field": "a0"},
            "endAngle": {"field": "a1"},
            "innerRadius": {"signal": "ring2End + 1"},
            "outerRadius": {"signal": "radius"},
            "fill": {"scale": "color", "field": "category"},
            "fillOpacity": {
              "signal": "hovered === null ? 0.65 : (hovered.category !== datum.category ? 0.15 : (hovered.kind === 'item' ? (hovered.label === datum.item ? 1 : 0.45) : (hovered.kind === 'subcategory' ? (hovered.subcategory === datum.subcategory ? 0.95 : 0.4) : 0.8)))"
            },
            "stroke": {"value": "white"},
            "strokeWidth": {"value": 1},
            "tooltip": {
              "signal": "{'Item': datum.item, 'Subcategory': datum.subcategory, 'Category': datum.category, 'Value': format(datum.amount, ','), 'Share of Total': format(datum.amount / datum.total, '.1%'), 'Share of Subcategory': format(datum.amount / datum.sub_total, '.1%')}"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "text",
        "interactive": false,
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2 - 14"},
            "align": {"value": "center"},
            "text": {"signal": "hovered === null ? 'Total' : hovered.label"},
            "limit": {"signal": "holeR * 1.7"},
            "fontSize": {"value": 13},
            "fontWeight": {"value": 600},
            "fill": {"value": "#374151"},
            "opacity": {"signal": "holeR > 30 ? 1 : 0"}
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "text",
        "interactive": false,
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2 + 8"},
            "align": {"value": "center"},
            "text": {"signal": "format(hovered === null ? grandTotal : hovered.amount, ',')"},
            "fontSize": {"value": 16},
            "fontWeight": {"value": 700},
            "fill": {"value": "#111827"},
            "opacity": {"signal": "holeR > 30 ? 1 : 0"}
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "type": "text",
        "interactive": false,
        "encode": {
          "update": {
            "x": {"signal": "width / 2"},
            "y": {"signal": "height / 2 + 28"},
            "align": {"value": "center"},
            "text": {"signal": "hovered === null ? '' : format(hovered.share, '.1%') + ' of total'"},
            "fontSize": {"value": 11},
            "fill": {"value": "#6b7280"},
            "opacity": {"signal": "holeR > 30 ? 1 : 0"}
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  };;
}