references/vega-lite-and-vega.md

# Vega-Lite and Vega

## What Problem This Solves

This reference covers the most portable declarative path for browser-ready specs.

## When to Use It

Use this when you need layered, transformed, faceted, or embedded specs that should survive across notebooks, web apps, or export workflows.

## Key Takeaways

- Vega-Lite is best when high-level marks, transforms, and composition cover the job cleanly.
- Vega is the fallback when lower-level control is needed while keeping a declarative runtime.
- Specs are easier to validate, store, and transport than bespoke rendering code.

## Common Mistakes

- Forcing a chart into Vega-Lite after the spec becomes harder to read than custom code.
- Ignoring accessibility and text alternatives just because the chart is declarative.

## Adjacent Skills

- `../SKILL.md`
- `../../d3-data-visualization/SKILL.md`

## Source Links

- [Vega-Lite](https://vega.github.io/vega-lite/)
- [Vega](https://vega.github.io/vega/)