---
title: How to build a PHP Donut chart
description: "# How to build a PHP Donut chart ## Create your first PHP Donut chart with Dashboard Builder ![PHP Donut Chart](/images/how-to-donut-screen0.png) A donut chart is essentially a Pie Chart with the centre area removed.The Dashboard Builder, which does not require…"
url: "https://dashboardbuilder.net/how-to-build-php-donut-chart"
updated: "2026-10-19"
category: Charts in PHP
---

# How to build a PHP Donut chart

# How to build a PHP Donut chart

## Create your first PHP Donut chart with Dashboard Builder

![PHP Donut Chart](/images/how-to-donut-screen0.png)

A donut chart is essentially a Pie Chart with the centre area removed.The Dashboard Builder, which does not require any programming skills, is the simplest way to create a **Donut chart in PHP**. The following is how to generate PHP code for a **Donut chart** using the Dashboard Builder.

#### Requirements

- PHP Version 7.2 or later
- Apache 2 or later
- Windows 7 or later /Linux 3 or later
- Firefox 52, Chrome 57, IE 8

#### Installation

- Download from [https://dashboardbuilder.net/download-free-dashboard](/download-free-dashboard)
- Place the files in a directory on the web server. e.g. `…/www/dashboar/dbuilder/`
- Unzip ![zip file](/images/zipfile.png)the file using Extract Here option to the root folder of "dashboardbuilder"

#### Create your first Dashboard

- Access the web folder in your browser. e.g. [http://localhost/dashboardbuilder](#) following welcome screen will appear

![Welcome Screen](/images/php-dashboard-screen1.png)

- Now Click the Database icon

- The screen below will appear. Choose Database from the data source tab. Select SQLite from the Database drop down list, enter `"../data/Northwind.db"` in the DB name field, and save changes as shown in the screen below.

![Select your Database](/images/php-dashboard-screen5.png)

- When your database is successfully connected, a green tick mark with a Database icon will appear.

![Dashboard Preference](/images/php-dashboard-screen7.png)

- Select the gear icon for your Dashboard preference.

![Database Connected](/images/php-dashboard-screen8.png)

- The following screen will appear. List of the tables will appear.

![Chart Preference](/images/php-dashboard-screen8b.png)

- In the text box, type your SQL statement.

`SELECT strftime('%Y-%m',o.shippeddate) as xaxis, sum(d.quantity) as yaxis from `order details` d, orders o where o.orderid = d.orderid group by strftime('%Y-%m',o.orderdate) limit 50`

- Click the Run Query button

![SQL Statement](/images/how-to-donut-screen1.png)

- The query result will be displayed. Now choose your x-axis data from the X drop down list and your y-axis data from the Y drop down list.
- Choose Line chart from the type drop down menu.
- Click the Save Changes button.

![SQL Query Result](/images/how-to-donut-screen2.png)

- Charts will be appeared on the screen as shown below.

![Chart Preference](/images/how-to-donut-screen3.png)

- Now, expand the Generate button and select PHP Code. The **PHP code** for the chart will be generated automatically; you can copy and paste this code into your PHP application.

![Chart Preference](/images/php-dashboard-screen9c.png)

- PHP code for the chart will automatically generate, you may copy and paste this code to your PHP application.

 

#### PHP Code

```
<?php
/**
 * DashboardBuilder
 *
 * @author Diginix Technologies www.diginixtech.com
 * Support  - http://www.dashboardbuilder.net
 * @copyright (C) 2018 Dashboardbuilder.net
 * @version 2.1.7
 * @license: license.txt
 */

include("inc/dashboard_dist.php");  // copy this file to inc folder 


// for chart #1
$data = new dashboardbuilder(); 
$data->type =  "line";

$data->source =  "Database"; 
$data->rdbms =  "sqlite"; 
$data->servername =  "";
$data->username =  "";
$data->password =  "";
$data->dbname =  "dataNorthwind.db";
$data->xaxisSQL[0]=  "SELECT strftime(^%Y-%m^,o.shippeddate) as xaxis, sum(d.quantity) as yaxis from `order details` d, orders o  where o.orderid = d.orderid group by strftime(^%Y-%m^,o.orderdate) limit 50";
$data->xaxisCol[0]=  "xaxis";
$data->yaxisSQL[0]=  "SELECT strftime(^%Y-%m^,o.shippeddate) as xaxis, sum(d.quantity) as yaxis from `order details` d, orders o  where o.orderid = d.orderid group by strftime(^%Y-%m^,o.orderdate) limit 50";
$data->yaxisCol[0]=  "yaxis";
$data->name = "linechart";
$data->title = "Line Chart";
$data->orientation = "";
$data->xaxistitle = "x-axis title";
$data->yaxistitle = "y-axis title";
$result[0] = $data->result();

?>

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html> 
<head> 
	<script src="assets/js/dashboard.min.js"></script> <!-- copy this file to assets/js folder --> 
	<!--<link rel="stylesheet" href="assets/css/bootstrap.min.css"> Bootstrap CSS file, change the path accordingly --> 


</head>
<body> 

<div class="container">
<div class="col-lg-12">
<div class="panel panel-default">
<div class="panel-heading"></div>
    <div class="panel-body">
        <?php echo $result[0];?>
    </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
```

 

 

The project also provides both free and paid plans. The Dashboard Builder code is available on [GitHub](https://github.com/DashboardBulder/dashboardbuilder.net) under this [license](/license).

## Need a hand?

Tell us what you’re stuck on and we’ll help you finish the setup.

[Contact support](https://dashboardbuilder.net/support)