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Ankit Singhaniya

Full Stack Developer

Mar 21, 2017

What is the best way to differentiate between a loading and a no data state?

I was wondering how people solve this trivial problem. Let's say you want to show a graph after getting the data from the network call. The graph should show a loading state while the data has not arrived, should show the graph if the data has arrived and if the arrived data is empty show a no data state.

#programming #javascript

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John Clayton

Remember, none of us have ever done anything like this before. Except for Mike, who once stole a tank and invaded Paris.

Mar 21, 2017

If there's no data, I don't show the graph - a simple message to the user saying "No data is available for the selection you have made" or words to that effect. Usually in the div that would've contained the graph had a graph been available. If it's all done via ajax, then the message gets shown in a modal over the page and the graph is left in it's default, empty, state.

Ankit Singhaniya

Full Stack Developer

Mar 21, 2017

well that works in case of one one graph. I have a complicated dashboard where one graph may not have data while others may have.

John Clayton

Remember, none of us have ever done anything like this before. Except for Mike, who once stole a tank and invaded Paris.

Ah, I see. Well, knowing the dimensions of the graph/s in question I would replace the empty graphs with a DIV of identical dimensions and a simple "No data available" message. Or an image, perhaps with faded-out graph in the background, of same.

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What is the best way to differentiate between a loading and a no data state?

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