charts.scale
Map data values onto screen positions and back: linear, log, time, band and point scales, and nice domains.
1.0.0 (not the latest) · published 2026-10-03 by charlie · Anterra
Pinned by 34 tests, run in TypeScript, Python and Rust.linearScale 14 · invertLinear 8 · niceDomain 12
What it does
A linear scale maps a data value onto a position: `linearScale([0, 100], [0, 500], 25, false)` is `125`, a quarter of the way along a 500 pixel axis. `invertLinear` goes the other way, from a pointer position back to the value under it, and `niceDomain` widens a data extent such as `[0.13, 9.7]` to `[0, 10]` so the axis starts and ends on a tick.
This is a group: three functions that only make sense together, in one package, each in its own file. Install only what you call with `require charts.scale ^1.0.0 only=linearScale`; `invertLinear` brings `linearScale` with it, because it reuses its arithmetic.
The functions
A group: 3 functions that work together, each in its own file, each pinned by its own tests in TypeScript, Python and Rust. A project can install only the ones it calls.
- linear_scale (domain: float[], range: float[], value: float, clamp: bool) -> float
- invert_linear (domain: float[], range: float[], value: float) -> float
- nice_domain (domain: float[], count: int) -> NiceDomain
The type it declares, generated into your project
@dataclass(frozen=True)
class NiceDomain:
"""A domain widened to round numbers, and the tick step that made them round."""
#: [from, to], in the order given
domain: List[float]
#: 1, 2 or 5 times a power of ten
step: float
Once installed, your code imports each one from the group's module.
linear_scale throws on bad input 14 tests
def linear_scale(domain: Sequence[float], range: Sequence[float], value: float, clamp: bool) -> float
| domain | float[] | the data extent [from, to]; from and to may be in either order but not equal |
| range | float[] | the output extent [from, to], usually pixels; may be reversed for a y axis |
| value | float | |
| clamp | bool | keep the result inside the range when value is outside the domain |
| returns | float | rounded to 6 decimal places |
For example
linear_scale(0, 100, 0, 500, 25, false)→ 125 a quarter of the way along a 500 pixel axislinear_scale(0, 100, 0, 500, 0, false)→ 0 the start of the domain is the start of the rangelinear_scale(0, 100, 0, 500, 100, false)→ 500 the end of the domain is the end of the range
from fune.charts.scale import linear_scale # charts.scale@^1
import math
from typing import Sequence, Tuple
def linear_scale(domain: Sequence[float], range: Sequence[float], value: float, clamp: bool) -> float:
"""Where value lands on the range, as a straight-line map from the domain.
Outside the domain the line carries on, unless clamp stops it at the
range's ends.
"""
d0, d1 = pair(domain, "domain")
r0, r1 = pair(range, "range")
t = normalise(d0, d1, value, "domain")
if clamp:
t = max(0.0, min(1.0, t))
return round6(interpolate(r0, r1, t))
# The helpers below are shared with invert_linear, which is the same line read
# the other way; they are not part of the group's contract.
def pair(values: Sequence[float], what: str) -> Tuple[float, float]:
if len(values) != 2:
raise ValueError(f"{what} must have exactly 2 values, [from, to]; got {len(values)}")
return float(values[0]), float(values[1])
def normalise(start: float, end: float, value: float, what: str) -> float:
# Equal ends would divide by zero, which Python raises as a bare
# ZeroDivisionError that does not say which end is wrong.
if start == end:
raise ValueError(f"{what} has no width: both ends are {start}")
return (value - start) / (end - start)
def interpolate(start: float, end: float, t: float) -> float:
return start + t * (end - start)
def round6(x: float) -> float:
"""Half up to 6 decimal places, the same way in every language."""
return math.floor(x * 1e6 + 0.5) / 1e6invert_linear throws on bad input 8 tests
def invert_linear(domain: Sequence[float], range: Sequence[float], value: float) -> float
| domain | float[] | |
| range | float[] | |
| value | float | a position in the range, such as a mouse coordinate |
| returns | float | the data value at that position, rounded to 6 decimal places |
For example
invert_linear(0, 100, 0, 500, 125)→ 25 a pixel back to its valueinvert_linear(0, 100, 0, 500, 0)→ 0 the start of the range is the start of the domaininvert_linear(0, 50, 300, 0, 240)→ 10 a reversed range
from fune.charts.scale import invert_linear # charts.scale@^1
Imports name this capability’s declared dependencies, which fune builds next to it in your project; each one links to its page.
from typing import Sequence
from .charts_scale_linear_scale import interpolate, normalise, pair, round6 ← linearScale, another function of this group · built into the same file, even by a slim install
def invert_linear(domain: Sequence[float], range: Sequence[float], value: float) -> float:
"""The domain value at a position in the range: linear_scale read backwards.
Never clamped; a position past the end of the axis is a value past the end
of the data.
"""
d0, d1 = pair(domain, "domain")
r0, r1 = pair(range, "range")
return round6(interpolate(d0, d1, normalise(r0, r1, value, "range")))nice_domain throws on bad input 12 tests
def nice_domain(domain: Sequence[float], count: int) -> NiceDomain
| domain | float[] | |
| count | int | roughly how many ticks the axis will have, at least 1 |
| returns | NiceDomain |
For example
nice_domain(3, 97, 10)→ domain 0, 100, step 10 widens to whole tensnice_domain(0.13, 0.87, 10)→ domain 0.1, 0.9, step 0.1 small numbers widen to tenthsnice_domain(0.13, 9.7, 5)→ domain 0, 10, step 2 a messy extent becomes 0 to 10
from fune.charts.scale import nice_domain # charts.scale@^1
import math
from typing import Sequence
from .charts_scale_types import NiceDomain
def nice_domain(domain: Sequence[float], count: int) -> NiceDomain:
"""Widen a domain to multiples of a round tick step chosen for about count ticks.
Widening can change the best step, so it repeats until the step settles,
as d3's nice() does.
"""
if len(domain) != 2:
raise ValueError(f"domain must have exactly 2 values, [from, to]; got {len(domain)}")
if isinstance(count, bool) or not isinstance(count, int) or count < 1:
raise ValueError(f"count must be a whole number of at least 1, got {count}")
reversed_ = domain[1] < domain[0]
lo = float(domain[1] if reversed_ else domain[0])
hi = float(domain[0] if reversed_ else domain[1])
if lo == hi:
return NiceDomain(domain=[float(domain[0]), float(domain[1])], step=0.0)
step = 0.0
for _ in range(10):
nxt = _tick_step(lo, hi, count)
if nxt == step:
break
step = nxt
if step >= 1:
lo = math.floor(lo / step) * step
hi = math.ceil(hi / step) * step
else:
# A fractional step divides badly (0.3 / 0.1 is 2.9999999999999996),
# so multiply by its whole-number inverse instead.
inverse = math.floor(1 / step + 0.5)
lo = math.floor(lo * inverse) / inverse
hi = math.ceil(hi * inverse) / inverse
ends = [_round6(hi), _round6(lo)] if reversed_ else [_round6(lo), _round6(hi)]
return NiceDomain(domain=ends, step=_round6(step))
def _tick_step(lo: float, hi: float, count: int) -> float:
raw = (hi - lo) / count
# Powers of ten by repeated multiplication rather than log10, whose last
# digit is not guaranteed to agree between languages.
power = 1.0
while power * 10 <= raw:
power *= 10
while power > raw:
power /= 10
error = raw / power
if error >= math.sqrt(50):
factor = 10
elif error >= math.sqrt(10):
factor = 5
elif error >= math.sqrt(2):
factor = 2
else:
factor = 1
return factor * power
def _round6(x: float) -> float:
return math.floor(x * 1e6 + 0.5) / 1e6Install
fune build
With that line in your source, in a Python project (language python in fune.project), fune build resolves it and nothing else, pins them in fune.lock, downloads only the Python package of each, and builds the code above into your project’s .fune/build, one readable file per capability with a header linking back here. Or pin a range in fune.project and build in one step:
fune add charts.scale
That builds the whole group. To build only what you call, and whatever it uses inside the group:
fune add charts.scale --only linearScale
The manifest, vectors and README with only the Python implementation. Install it without the registry with fune add ./charts.scale-1.0.0-python.fune, or fetch it from a terminal with fune pull charts.scale@1.0.0:python.
The whole function, every language, is one file too: charts.scale-1.0.0.fune, 25,804 bytes, sha256 3b2f87385b03e0c3f4e8139e79ee5270cc7b4a60f23f951474f461fe8d250251. It installs into a project of any language.
Customise it in your app
The seams this capability offers. Put a marker directly above a function of your own and fune build wires it into the built code; the package on the registry is not changed, the built file’s header lists it under CUSTOMISED, and fune hooks lists every hook in the project. How hooks work.
before — your function gets the arguments and returns them, changed or not, or throws to refuse the call.
# fune: before charts.scale.linearScale
# fune: before charts.scale.invertLinear
# fune: before charts.scale.niceDomain
after — your function gets the result and the arguments, and returns the final result.
# fune: after charts.scale.linearScale
# fune: after charts.scale.invertLinear
# fune: after charts.scale.niceDomain
replace — it requires no other capability, so there is no dependency to replace.
step — your function runs at a numbered point inside a function’s body, receives the in-scope values it names as parameters, and may return replacements. List the points with fune show charts.scale --steps.
# fune: step charts.scale.<fn> after <n|label>
Tests
A version published now needs at least 8 tests for every function, and one that expects the error for each function that throws; the registry refuses it otherwise. fune verify --all runs each case in TypeScript, Python and Rust, and a project runs them again with fune verify. This page lists the cases; it does not run them. The exact JSON is vectors.json.
linearScale 14 tests
| Case | Arguments | Expected | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a quarter of the way along a 500 pixel axis | 0, 100, 0, 500, 25, false | → | 125 |
| the start of the domain is the start of the range | 0, 100, 0, 500, 0, false | → | 0 |
| the end of the domain is the end of the range | 0, 100, 0, 500, 100, false | → | 500 |
| a reversed range, as a y axis drawn downwards | 0, 50, 300, 0, 10, false | → | 240 |
| a reversed domain | 100, 0, 0, 1, 75, false | → | 0.25 |
| negative values | -20, 40, 0, 600, -5, false | → | 150 |
| past the end runs on without clamp | 0, 10, 0, 100, 15, false | → | 150 |
| past the end stops at the range with clamp | 0, 10, 0, 100, 15, true | → | 100 |
| before the start stops at the range with clamp | 0, 10, 100, 200, -3, true | → | 100 |
| clamp changes nothing inside the domain | 0, 10, 0, 100, 2.5, true | → | 25 |
Show the other 4 tests
| Case | Arguments | Expected | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a third is rounded to 6 decimal places | 0, 3, 0, 1, 1, false | → | 0.333 |
| fractional domain | 0.1, 0.3, 0, 10, 0.2, false | → | 5 |
| a domain with no width is an error | 5, 5, 0, 100, 5, false | → | error: domain has no width |
| a domain needs two ends | 0, 1, 2, 0, 100, 1, false | → | error: domain must have exactly 2 values, [from, to] |
invertLinear 8 tests
| Case | Arguments | Expected | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a pixel back to its value | 0, 100, 0, 500, 125 | → | 25 |
| the start of the range is the start of the domain | 0, 100, 0, 500, 0 | → | 0 |
| a reversed range | 0, 50, 300, 0, 240 | → | 10 |
| past the end of the axis is past the end of the data | 0, 10, 0, 100, 150 | → | 15 |
| a third is rounded to 6 decimal places | 0, 1, 0, 3, 1 | → | 0.333 |
| negative domain | -20, 40, 0, 600, 150 | → | -5 |
| a range with no width is an error | 0, 10, 7, 7, 7 | → | error: range has no width |
| a range needs two ends | 0, 10, 7, 7 | → | error: range must have exactly 2 values, [from, to] |
niceDomain 12 tests
| Case | Arguments | Expected | |
|---|---|---|---|
| widens to whole tens | 3, 97, 10 | → | domain 0, 100, step 10 |
| small numbers widen to tenths | 0.13, 0.87, 10 | → | domain 0.1, 0.9, step 0.1 |
| a messy extent becomes 0 to 10 | 0.13, 9.7, 5 | → | domain 0, 10, step 2 |
| an already nice domain is unchanged | 0, 100, 10 | → | domain 0, 100, step 10 |
| negative to positive | -12.5, 37.2, 5 | → | domain -20, 40, step 10 |
| a reversed domain stays reversed | 97, 3, 10 | → | domain 100, 0, step 10 |
| large values step in fives of a power of ten | 1,234, 98,765, 20 | → | domain 0, 100,000, step 5,000 |
| one tick | 2, 9, 1 | → | domain 0, 10, step 10 |
| a fractional step that divides badly | 0.3, 0.9, 6 | → | domain 0.3, 0.9, step 0.1 |
| equal ends are returned as they are | 4, 4, 10 | → | domain 4, 4, step 0 |
Show the other 2 tests
| Case | Arguments | Expected | |
|---|---|---|---|
| count must be at least 1 | 0, 10, 0 | → | error: count must be a whole number of at least 1 |
| a domain needs two ends | 1, 5 | → | error: domain must have exactly 2 values, [from, to] |
More from the author
Scales are geometry, not money, so they work in floating point. Every result is rounded to 6 decimal places inside the function (half up, as `floor(x * 1e6 + 0.5) / 1e6`), which is far below a pixel and makes TypeScript, Python and Rust agree to the digit.
A domain or range is a two-element list, `[from, to]`. Either may run backwards: a y axis usually maps `[0, max]` onto `[height, 0]`. A domain whose two ends are equal has no width to map, and `linearScale` raises rather than divide by zero; `invertLinear` raises for a range with equal ends for the same reason.
Without `clamp`, a value outside the domain maps outside the range, which is what an axis drawing a point past its end wants. With it, the result stops at the range's ends.
`niceDomain` picks a tick step of 1, 2 or 5 times a power of ten, aiming for about `count` ticks across the domain, then moves each end out to a multiple of that step, repeating until the step stops changing. It returns the step with the domain, so the axis can draw ticks on exactly those multiples. A domain whose ends are equal is returned unchanged with a step of 0.