---
title: How to create a Pie chart in PHP
description: "# How to create a Pie chart in PHP and retrieve data from MySQL Before we begin, it is important to understand what a pie chart is. ## What is a Pie chart? A Pie chart is a circular chart…"
url: "https://dashboardbuilder.net/how-to-build-php-pie-chart"
updated: "2026-10-19"
category: Charts in PHP
---

# How to create a Pie chart in PHP

# How to create a Pie chart in PHP and retrieve data from MySQL

Before we begin, it is important to understand what a pie chart is.

## What is a Pie chart?

A Pie chart is a circular chart divided in sectors. Each sector denotes a relative size of each value. The easiest way to generate a Pie chart is through Dashboard Builder which does not require any programming skills. The following is a step-by-step method on producing PHP code for a Pie chart.

![PHP Pie Char](/images/how-to-pie-screen0.png)

## Pie Chart Tutorial

In this article, we'll use the Dashboard Builder Tool to create a Pie chart and retrieve data from a MySQL database, as well as generate PHP source code.

#### 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 [Download Dashboard Builder](/download-free-dashboard)
- Place the file 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 PHP Pie Chart

- 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
- Following screen will appear. Select Database from data source tab. Select MySQL from the list of Database, Enter your `"Northwind.db"` in the DB name field and Save changes  as mentioned in the screen.

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

- Enter user name and password of your database.
- A green tick mark with Database will appear when your database is successfully connected.

![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 with a list of tables will appear.

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

- Enter your SQL statement in text box,

`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-pie-screen1.png)

- Query Result will appear. Now Select your x-axis data from the drop down list of  X  and y-axis data from the drop down list of  Y .
- Select Pie from the drop down list of Chart Type
- Click  Save Changes

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

- Charts will be shown on the screen as below.

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

- Now extend the  Generate  button and click on the  Pie chart PHP Source Code

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

- The chart's PHP code will be created automatically, and you may copy and paste it into your PHP application.

### Pie Chart PHP source 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 =  "pie";

$data->source =  "Database"; 
$data->rdbms =  "mysql"; 
$data->servername =  "";
$data->username =  "";
$data->password =  "";
$data->dbname =  "northwind";
$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 = "piechart";
$data->title = "Pie 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 offers free and paid plans. The code for Dashboard Builder can be found 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)