Inline Data

Embed data directly in your chart configuration. Best for small datasets, demos, and quick prototyping.

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Basic Syntax

Use source with a JSON string:

```dg
type: bar
data:
  source: '[{"product": "Apples", "count": 10}, {"product": "Oranges", "count": 7}]'
x: product
y: count
title: Fruit Inventory
```

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JSON Array Format

The most common format - an array of objects:

data:
  source: '[
    {"name": "Alice", "score": 85},
    {"name": "Bob", "score": 92},
    {"name": "Carol", "score": 78}
  ]'

Each object becomes a row. Keys become column names.

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Multi-Line Format

Use YAML multi-line syntax for readability:

data:
  source: |
    [
      {"date": "2024-01", "revenue": 1200},
      {"date": "2024-02", "revenue": 1450},
      {"date": "2024-03", "revenue": 1320}
    ]

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Single Object Format

For key-value pairs, use an object:

data:
  source: '{"apples": 10, "oranges": 7, "bananas": 5}'

DataGlass converts this to:

key	value
apples	10
oranges	7
bananas	5

Use x: key and y: value to access.

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Data Types

Values are automatically parsed:

Input	Type
"hello"	String
42	Number
3.14	Number
true / false	Boolean
null	Null
"2024-01-15"	String (parsed as date for time axes)

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Complete Example

```dg
type: line
data:
  source: |
    [
      {"month": "Jan", "sales": 4200, "region": "North"},
      {"month": "Feb", "sales": 3800, "region": "North"},
      {"month": "Mar", "sales": 5500, "region": "North"},
      {"month": "Jan", "sales": 3100, "region": "South"},
      {"month": "Feb", "sales": 2900, "region": "South"},
      {"month": "Mar", "sales": 4200, "region": "South"}
    ]
x: month
y: sales
color: region
title: Regional Sales Comparison
```

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Tips

Keep It Small: Inline data is stored in your note. For datasets over 50 rows, use a file instead.

Quote the JSON: The entire JSON string must be quoted with single quotes (').

Use Multi-Line: The YAML | syntax makes large inline data much more readable.

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Common Mistakes

Wrong: Unquoted JSON

data:
  source: [{"x": 1}]  # Error: YAML parses this incorrectly

Right: Quoted JSON

data:
  source: '[{"x": 1}]'  # Correct: String containing JSON

Wrong: Double quotes around JSON

data:
  source: "[{\"x\": 1}]"  # Messy escaping

Right: Single quotes outside

data:
  source: '[{"x": 1}]'  # Clean

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See Also

• File Data - For larger datasets
• Transformations - Process data after loading