Building a Stunning Dashboard With Angular

The Code Points March 16, 2025 0

Dashboards are one of the most popular ways to represent data in a visually engaging and interactive way. They provide users with valuable insights into key metrics, trends, and updates, making data more accessible and actionable. With Angular, one of the most robust frameworks for building dynamic web applications, you can create a stunning, interactive, and scalable dashboard that’s both functional and visually appealing.

In this blog, we will guide you step-by-step on how to build a stunning dashboard with Angular, leveraging powerful tools like Angular Material and ngx-charts, and exploring best practices for both design and functionality.

Step 1: Setting Up the Angular Environment

Before diving into the project, ensure that you have the necessary tools installed. You need Node.js, npm (Node Package Manager), and Angular CLI (Command Line Interface) to get started. Here’s how you can set it all up:

1.1 Install Node.js

Head over to Node.js's official website and download the latest version of Node.js, which includes npm.

1.2 Install Angular CLI

Once Node.js and npm are installed, you can install Angular CLI globally using npm. Open your terminal and run:

npm install -g @angular/cli

1.3 Create a New Angular Project

Create a new Angular project by running the following command:

ng new angular-dashboard

Follow the prompts and choose the default settings or configure them based on your needs.

1.4 Start the Development Server

Navigate into your project directory and start the Angular development server:

cd angular-dashboard
ng serve

You can now view the project in your browser at http://localhost:4200.

Step 2: Choose the Right Dashboard Components

A dashboard typically contains various types of widgets like charts, graphs, tables, and cards. You can either create these components manually or use libraries like Angular Material or ngx-charts..

2.1 Install Angular Material

Angular Material provides a set of UI components that are ready to use and customizable. To install Angular Material, run the following command:

ng add @angular/material

Follow the prompts to configure Angular Material in your project.

2.2 Install ngx-charts (Optional)

For data visualization, ngx-charts is a great library. Install it with the following command:

npm install @swimlane/ngx-charts --save

Step 3: Build Core Dashboard Components

At this point, you should focus on building the basic structure of your dashboard, including the sidebar, navigation bar, and main content area.

3.1 Create Sidebar Component

A sidebar is crucial for navigating between different sections of the dashboard. To create a sidebar component, run the following command:

ng generate component sidebar

Implement the sidebar by adding links to different dashboard sections (e.g., overview, reports, settings).

3.2 Create Navbar Component

The navbar will usually contain branding, links to profile settings, and possibly notifications. Use the Angular Material toolbar for a responsive design:

<mat-toolbar color="primary">
  <span>My Dashboard</span>
  <span class="spacer"></span>
  <button mat-button>Profile</button>
  <button mat-button>Settings</button>
</mat-toolbar>

3.3 Create Widgets and Charts

Now, it’s time to add the widgets. For example, you can create a card component that will show statistics like total users, orders, or revenue. You can also include charts like bar charts or pie charts using ngx-charts.

For a bar chart, you can create a component like this:

<ngx-charts-bar-vertical
  [view]="[700, 400]"
  [scheme]="colorScheme"
  [results]="barChartData"
  [xAxis]="true"
  [yAxis]="true"
  [legend]="true"
  [showXAxisLabel]="true"
  [showYAxisLabel]="true"
  [yAxisLabel]="'Sales'"
  [xAxisLabel]="'Month'">
</ngx-charts-bar-vertical>

Define the barChartData in your component’s TypeScript file.

3.4 Add Responsive Layout

Make sure your dashboard is responsive across devices. Use CSS Flexbox or CSS Grid to build the layout, ensuring that components adjust their size and position according to the screen size.

Step 4: Implementing Data Handling

Dashboards typically display real-time data, so you need to set up data handling.

4.1 Create a Service for API Calls

Angular services are perfect for handling HTTP requests. You can use Angular’s HttpClient module to fetch data from APIs.

First, generate a service:

ng generate service data

In the service file, make API calls like this:

import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
import { HttpClient } from '@angular/common/http';
import { Observable } from 'rxjs';

@Injectable({
  providedIn: 'root'
})
export class DataService {

  private apiUrl = 'https://api.example.com/dashboard-data';

  constructor(private http: HttpClient) { }

  getDashboardData(): Observable<any> {
    return this.http.get(this.apiUrl);
  }
}

4.2 Bind Data to Components

Now, bind the data returned from the API to your dashboard components. For example, in the chart component, you can update the chart data by subscribing to the service.

export class DashboardComponent implements OnInit {
  barChartData = [];

  constructor(private dataService: DataService) {}

  ngOnInit(): void {
    this.dataService.getDashboardData().subscribe((data) => {
      this.barChartData = data.chartData;
    });
  }
}

Step 5: Enhance with Additional Features

5.1 User Authentication

Adding authentication is a common requirement for dashboards. Use Angular’s built-in HTTP interceptors to manage login tokens and authorization.

5.2 Notifications

You can add notification widgets to display alerts or messages. This can be done by integrating a notification service or using libraries like ngx-toastr.

5.3 Dark Mode

Dark mode is a popular feature. You can easily implement it in Angular using CSS variables and toggling classes dynamically.

toggleDarkMode(): void {
  document.body.classList.toggle('dark-mode');
}

5.4 Charts Customization

Make your charts interactive and customizable, such as adding tooltips, legends, and animations to make the data visually appealing and easy to understand.

Step 6: Testing and Deployment

Once your dashboard is ready, test it thoroughly to ensure all components function properly. Use Angular’s testing tools like Jasmine and Karma to write unit tests for your components.

For deployment, you can use platforms like Firebase, Netlify, or AWS to host your Angular application.

ng build --prod

After building the project, upload the dist/ folder to your hosting provider.

Conclusion

Building a stunning dashboard with Angular involves several key steps: setting up the environment, choosing the right components, building core components like sidebars and navigation bars, handling data, and enhancing features. Angular’s powerful CLI, coupled with libraries like Angular Material and ngx-charts, makes the development process smooth and efficient. By following the outlined steps and adding custom features like authentication and dark mode, you can create a polished and interactive dashboard.