---
title: Add Tinybird Charts to a Next.js frontend
meta:
    description: Tinybird Charts make it easy to create interactive charts. In this guide, we'll show you how to add Tinybird Charts to a Next.js frontend.
---

# Add Tinybird Charts to a Next.js frontend

In this guide, you'll learn how to generate create Tinybird Charts from the UI, and add them to your Next.js frontend. 

Tinybird Charts make it easy to visualize your data and create interactive charts. You can create a chart from the UI, and then embed it in your frontend application. This guide will show you how to add Tinybird Charts to a Next.js frontend.

You can view the [live demo](https://guide-tinybird-charts.vercel.app/) or browse the [GitHub repo (guide-tinybird-charts)](https://github.com/tinybirdco/guide-tinybird-charts).

{% image src="/img/charts-demo.png" alt="Tinybird charts demo" /%}

## Prerequisites

This guide assumes that you have a Tinybird account, and you are familiar with creating a Tinybird Workspace and pushing resources to it.

You'll need a working familiarity with JavaScript and Next.js.

## Run the demo

These steps cover running the GitHub demo locally. [Skip to the next section](#build-from-scratch) to build the demo from scratch.

### 1. Clone the GitHub repo

Clone the [GitHub repo (guide-tinybird-charts)](https://github.com/tinybirdco/guide-tinybird-charts) to your local machine.

### 2. Push Tinybird resources

The repo contains a `tinybird` folder which includes sample Tinybird resources:

- `events.datasource`: The Data Source for incoming events.
- `airline_market_share.pipe`: An API Endpoint giving a count of bookings per airline.
- `bookings_over_time.pipe`: An API Endpoint giving a time series of booking volume over time.
- `bookings_over_time_by_airline.pipe`: An API Endpoint giving a time series of booking volume over time with an `airline` filter.
- `meal_choice_distribution.pipe`: An API Endpoint giving a count of meal choices across bookings.
- `top_airlines.pipe`: An API Endpoint giving a list of the top airlines by booking volume.

Make a new Tinybird Workspace in the region of your choice. Then, configure the [Tinybird CLI](/classic/cli/install) (install and authenticate) and `tb push` the resources to your Workspace. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the files onto the UI to upload them.

### 3. Generate some fake data

Use [Mockingbird](https://tbrd.co/mockingbird-tinybird-charts-guide) to generate fake data for the `events` Data Source.

Using this link ^ provides a pre-configured schema, and you'll just need to enter your Workspace Admin Token and select the Host region that matches your Workspace. When configured, select `Save`, then scroll down and select `Start Generating!`.

In the Tinybird UI, confirm that the `events` Data Source is successfully receiving data.

### 4. Install dependencies

In the cloned repo, navigate to `/app` and install the dependencies with `npm install`.

### 5. Configure .env

First create a new file `.env.local`

```shell {% title="Create the .env.local file in /app" %}
cp .env.example .env.local
```

From the Tinybird UI, copy the read Token for the Charts (if you deployed the resources from this repo, it will be called `CHART_READ_TOKEN`). Paste the Token into the `.env.local` file in your directory:

```shell {% title="In the .env.local file" %}
NEXT_PUBLIC_TINYBIRD_STATIC_READ_TOKEN="STATIC READ TOKEN"
```

### Run the demo app

Run it locally:

```shell
npm run dev
```

Then open `localhost:3000` with your browser.

## Build from scratch

This section will take you from a fresh Tinybird Workspace to a Next.js app with a Tinybird Chart.

### 1. Set up a Workspace

Create a new Workspace. This guide uses the `EU GCP` region, but you can use any region.

Save [this .datasource file](https://github.com/tinybirdco/guide-tinybird-charts/blob/main/tinybird/datasources/events.datasource) locally, and upload it to the Tinybird UI - you can either drag and drop, or use **Create new (+)** to add a new Data Source.

You now have a Workspace with an `events` Data Source and specified schema. Time to generate some data to fill the Data Source!

### 2. Generate some fake data

Use [Mockingbird](https://tbrd.co/mockingbird-tinybird-charts-guide) to generate fake data for the `events` Data Source.

Using this link ^ provides a pre-configured schema, and you'll just need to enter your Workspace Admin Token and select the Host region that matches your Workspace. When configured, select `Save`, then scroll down and select `Start Generating!`.

In the Tinybird UI, confirm that the `events` Data Source is successfully receiving data.

### 3. Create and publish an API Endpoint

In the Tinybird UI, select the `events` Data Source and then select `Create Pipe` in the top right.

In the new Pipe, change the name to `top_airlines`.

In the first SQL Node,paste the following SQL:

```sql
    SELECT
        airline,
        count() as bookings
    FROM events
    GROUP BY airline
    ORDER BY bookings DESC
    LIMIT 5
```

Name this node `endpoint` and select `Run`.

Now, publish the Pipe by selecting `Create API Endpoint` and selecting the `endpoint` Node. Congratulations! You have a published API Endpoint.

### 4. Create a Chart

Publishing the API Endpoint takes you to the API Endpoint overview page.

Scroll down to the `Output` section and select the `Charts` tab.

Select `Create Chart`.

On the `General` tab, set the name to `Top Airlines` then choose `Bar List` as the Chart type.

On the `Data` tab, choose the `airline` column for the `Index` and check the `bookings` box for the `Categories`.

Select Save.

### 5. View the Chart component code

After saving your Chart, you'll be returned to the API Endpoint overview page and you'll see your Chart in the `Output` section.

To the view the component code for the Chart, select the code symbol (`<>`) above it. You'll see the command to install the `tinybird-charts` library as well as the React component code.

### 6. Create a new Next.js app

On your local machine, create a new working directory and navigate to it. For this example, it's called `myapp`.

```shell {% title="Make a new working directory for your Next.js frontend app" %}
mkdir myapp
cd myapp
```

In the `myapp` dir, create a new Next.js app with the following command:

```shell {% title="Initialize a new Next.js app" %}
npx create-next-app@latest
```

Some prompts to configure the app appears. Use the following settings:

```shell {% title="Example new Next.js app settings" %}
✔ What is your project named? … tinybird-demo
✔ Would you like to use TypeScript? … No / [Yes]
✔ Would you like to use ESLint? … No / [Yes]
✔ Would you like to use Tailwind CSS? … No / [Yes]
✔ Would you like to use `src/` directory? … No / [Yes]
✔ Would you like to use App Router? (recommended) … No / [Yes]
✔ Would you like to customize the default import alias (@/*)? … [No] / Yes
```

After the app is created, navigate to the app directory (this will be the same as the project name you entered, in this example, `tinybird-demo`).

```shell
cd tinybird-demo
```

### 7. Add the Tinybird Charts library

Add the Tinybird Charts library to your project

```shell
npm install @tinybirdco/charts
```

### 8. Add the Chart component

Create a new subfolder and file `src/app/components/Chart.tsx`. This will contain the component code for the Chart.

[Copy the component from the Tinybird UI](#5-view-the-chart-component-code) and paste it here. It should look like this:

```typescript {% title="Example Chart.tsx code copied from Tinybird UI Chart" %}
'use client'

import { BarList } from '@tinybirdco/charts'

export function TopAirlines() {
  return (
    <BarList
      endpoint="{% user("apiHost") %}/v0/pipes/top_airlines.json"
      token="...token..."
      index="airline"
      categories={['bookings']}
      colorPalette={['#27F795', '#008060']}
      borderRadius="8px"
      title="Top Airlines"
      height="500px"
      padding="16px"
    />
  )
}
```

Save the file.

### 9. Add the Chart to your page

In your `src/app/page.tsx` file, delete the default contents so you have an empty file.

Then, import the `TopAirlines` component and add it to the page:

```typescript {% title="src/app/page.tsx" %}
import { TopAirlines } from "./components/Chart";

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <div>
      <TopAirlines />
    </div>
  )
}
```

### 10. Run the app

Run the app with `npm run dev` and open `localhost:3000` in your browser.

### 11. You're done!

You've successfully added a Tinybird Chart to a Next.js frontend.

Your Next.js frontend should now show a single bar line Chart. See the [live demo](https://guide-tinybird-charts.vercel.app/) and browse the [GitHub repo (guide-tinybird-charts)](https://github.com/tinybirdco/guide-tinybird-charts) for inspiration on how to combine more Chart components to make a full dashboard.

## Next steps

- Interested in dashboards? Explore Tinybird's many applications in the [Use Case Hub](/use-cases).