Timeline JS
Timeline JS is an open-source tool that enables you to build visually rich, interactive timelines. It is used by news organizations, universities, and individuals to create chronological timelines that incorporate images, maps, slideshows, and other multimedia.
timeline
chronology
history
interactive
Timeline JS: Open-Source Timeline Builder
Create visually rich, interactive timelines with Timeline JS, an open-source tool used by news organizations, universities, and individuals for chronological storytelling.
What is Timeline JS?
Timeline JS is an open-source web tool created by Northwestern University's Knight Lab that allows users to build interactive timelines. It is designed for storytelling and allows creators to incorporate text, images, videos, maps, and other multimedia into visually-rich timelines that are easy to navigate.
The tool provides a simple interface for inputting the events, dates, media, and captions to populate the timeline. Timeline JS then renders this content into an elegant timeline with responsive design that works across all devices. Some key features include:
- Drag-and-drop interface for adding events to the timeline.
- Ability to import timelines generated in Google Sheets, Excel, or CSV files.
- Customize visual theme colors, fonts, language, dimensions.
- Incorporate tweets, flickr photos, Youtube videos, Wikipedia entries.
- Add events with geographic locations to include map visualizations.
- responds to swiping and scrolling on mobile devices.
The open-source code behind Timeline JS runs on JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It leverages the StoryJS core timeline library for rendering. There is thorough documentation available on GitHub to assist with theme customizations or more advanced implementations. Overall it provides an intuitive tool for making visually engaging, interactive timelines with rich multimedia that engage audiences in conveying detailed stories and event chronologies.
Timeline JS Features
Features
- Allows creating interactive timelines
- Supports incorporating text, images, videos, maps, slideshows
- Open source and customizable
- Responsive design works on mobile
- Can embed timelines on websites
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Easy to use drag and drop interface
Lots of customization options
Engaging interactive timelines
Works with many content types
Cons
Requires some coding knowledge for advanced customization
Limited templates and themes
Hosting and publishing requires technical expertise
Not ideal for very complex or data heavy timelines
Official Links
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