25 Types of Graphs and Charts for Data Visualization
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Graphs are an excellent way to visualize data and display numbers & statistics. You are surrounded by graphs and charts. You have most likely seen types of charts and graphs at work, in the news, in sports, in the media, in advertisements, and many other settings at some point in your life.
Here are so many popular types of charts and graphs including Bar graphs, Pie charts, Line graphs, Scatter plots, Area charts, Histogram, Radar charts, Statistical graphs, Waterfall charts, Boxplot, Pictograph, Bubble charts, Gantt charts, Venn diagrams, Dot plot, Flow Chart, Funnel chart, Heatmap, Column chart, Exponential graphs, Gauge chart, Graph, Line chart, Bullet chart. So, how do you ensure that you are correctly interpreting and utilizing charts and graphs?
Learn here about the most prevalently used types of charts and graphs, along with tips on when and how to use them properly.
1. Bar Chart
Rectangular bars or columns are used in bar graphs to visually depict data. Each bar’s length, in this case, relates proportionately to its value. You can put these bars in a vertical or horizontal direction.
When comparing the values of various groups or categories, bar charts work great. Also, the distribution of data among various categories can be effectively displayed using these kinds of charts.
2. Line Graph
A line graph is any graph that uses lines and points to show how something has changed over time. It’s a chart with a line connecting multiple points or demonstrating the relationship between the points.
A straight line or curve connecting a sequence of subsequent data points in the diagram represents quantitative data between two changing variables. These two variables are compared using linear charts on both the vertical and horizontal axis.
3. Pie Charts
Pie charts, often called circle charts, have a special place and significance in the world of statistical graphs and charts. Numerical proportion is shown and data and statistics are presented in an understandable “pie-slice” manner.
The size of each pie slice relates to the total size of a specific category within a group. In other words, the pie chart divides a group into smaller halves, and relationships between parts are depicted.
4. Scatter Plots Graphs
Scatter graphs, or scatter plots, are used to show the relationship between two or more variables. Two variables from a data set are represented in the graphs using mathematical coordinates. A scatter plot shows data as a group of points, each of which represents a value variable shown on the vertical and horizontal axes.
An extra variable can be shown in a single chart if the points are color-coded. When examining patterns and correlations between two continuous data, scatter plots are the best method. They can assist you in finding patterns, connections, or possible groups within the data.
5. Area Charts
Area charts show changes over time in one or more quantities. Line charts and area charts are actually similar. But usually, colors cover the space between the axis and the line.
Line and area charts are not necessarily interchangeable, even if they offer the same kind of analysis. Many times, different data sets are represented using line charts. It is used to present a simple comparison of the historical trend of several data sets.
6. Histogram Chart
A histogram is a unique kind of vertical bar graph used to display numerical data along with its frequency distribution. Plotting the data on any chronological scale, such as temperature, elevation, or monetary value, is another way to show the distribution.
A histogram can be used to show the proportion of a population that falls into a specific age range. The number of people in each group is indicated by the height or length of each bar in the histogram.
7. Radar Chart
One of the trendiest kinds of graphs, a radar chart, is perfect for making several comparisons. Radar charts use a circular display with multiple quantitative axes that resemble wheel spokes. A quantity for an individual categorization value is displayed on each axis.
These days, radar charts are used extensively in data intelligence, business, math, statistics, and sports analysis, among other fields. For example, a radar chart can visually compare and show the expenses and results of several medical procedures in relation to multiple conditions.
8. Waterfall Chart
Time variations are reflected in waterfall charts. They show how various circumstances can have both positive and negative effects on an initial value, like an opening balance. Positive and negative numbers are usually color coded to indicate how a series of changes over time has caused the value to increase or drop. When studying profit and loss, comparing earnings, and presenting financial accounts, waterfall charts are useful.
9. Boxplot Chart
A boxplot chart shows the distributions of one or more sets of numerical data by using boxes and lines. They are designed to offer a high degree of detail in a visual representation or a data summary. The central 50% of the data, or the middle region, is represented by the range of boxes, which make up the majority of the chart in a box plot.
A line that shows the median value is also visible inside the boxes. The lines (whiskers) coming out of each box represent the other half of the data. This boxplot chart is quite popular in the financial field and in research.
10. Pictographs
Pictographs are one of the more aesthetically pleasing forms of graphs and charts that show numerical data by using icons or pictorial symbols to represent data sets. These statistical methods of data visualization are relatively simple to understand.
A Pictograph makes use of pictures or symbols to represent the data. One or more units from a particular dataset can be represented by each image or symbol. For instance, to show how many books a store sold over a few months, you could use an image of a book.
11. Bubble Chart
Bubble charts are incredibly helpful graph types that allow you to compare relationships between three different numerical data dimensions. That is the Y-axis data, the X-axis data, and the bubble size data.
These charts are among the most useful data graph forms for quickly comparing many values or sets of data, which are bubble charts. Bubble charts and plots are highly effective tools for showing relationships between various product categories, revenue streams, investment risks, expenses, and other related information.
12. Gantt Chart
Project timelines are shown on Gantt charts. The project’s duration, shown in days, weeks, months, or years, is represented by the horizontal axis. Every project is shown on the chart as a bar on the vertical axis.
Along with the task’s start and end dates, the bar’s length is sometimes indicated with a vertical line that indicates the current date. Gantt charts are a useful tool for project managers to track the status and development of individual tasks.
13. Dot Plot
In a Dot plot data is represented with dots. When there are several different groups in the values and the data is relatively small, a dot plot is used. The dot plots are arranged with the most common value appearing first. Dot column height therefore indicates the frequency for that value. Dot plots graphs are very useful when the variable is categorical or quantitative.
14. Flow Chart
Using arrows to connect the various box kinds that represent the steps in a workflow or process, flow charts show the sequence in which the steps are completed. There might be many starts and endings to these flow charts, along with an endless number of paths and travels in between.
While a simple flow chart can be used for basic process from A to B to C, the diagrams are commonly used to illustrate more complex sequences with multiple conditions. Flowcharts are widely used for planning and execution, client onboarding, organizational charts, training materials, SOPs, and more.
15. Funnel Chart
Funnel charts are used to show how values progress through several phases. The top of them is the widest, while the bottom is the narrowest. When monitoring a sales process, funnel charts are quite useful. They are useful for showing website traffic, which includes the quantity of visitors, pages read, and downloads.
16. Heatmap Graphs
A heatmap shows variances in the data, including correlations, trends, and patterns. It achieves this by directly representing the values using data labels and color, or intensity. A heatmap’s data is arranged in a table format. A heatmap can be used as a graphic to study the data and provide guidance on where to find specific angles, additional points of view, or outliers.
17. Column Charts
Column charts are the most basic and adaptable kind of visualization in data analytics. Bars representing data are proportionate to the values they represent in the horizontal chart. Data from several categories can be compared effectively with column charts. They also help viewers identify patterns more quickly by showing rankings and order within a dataset.
18. Exponential Graph
An exponential graph is a curve that shows the exponential function. An exponential function graph has a horizontal asymptote and, depending on the situation can have either a decreasing or increasing slope.
The visual representation of exponential functions is important as they can be used to illustrate a variety of real-world phenomena, including the spread of diseases and national population increase.
19. Gauge Charts
Gauge charts, sometimes referred to as dial charts or speedometer charts, show data in a way that is comparable to reading on a dial or speedometer by using colors and needles. They work well for showing a single number or metric in a quantitative context, like in relation to a target value or the preceding period. In executive dashboards and reports, the gauge chart is often used to show progress on important business KPIs.
20. Bullet Chart
You can assess the success of a certain objective or target with the use of a bullet chart. Certain bullet charts feature high targets, such as profit-demonstrating charts. Some, like those who show expenses, have small objectives. It consists of three essential components and is usually employed for performance tracking, allowing comparisons against a target or other relevant values.
21. Spline Chart
A Spline Chart is a type of line chart that shows rounded curves passing across the various data points. It’s a type of line chart where the various data points are represented by smooth curves.
With the exception of using a fitted curved line to connect the data points, spline charts contain all the features of line charts. Line charts, on the other hand, use straight lines to join data points. Spline Chart can be used when you need to plot data that needs curve-fitting.
22. Treemap charts
Data can be shown as nested rectangles using treemaps, which are hierarchical charts. Treemaps are helpful for showing hierarchical and category relationships as these rectangles, or branches, represent the structure and distribution of data.
Apart from representing hierarchical data, this kind of visualization helps in illuminating part-to-whole linkages within a dataset by showing the relative contributions of each category to the composition as a whole.
23. Sunburst Charts
Concentric circles are used in sunburst charts, a kind of multi-level pie chart, to represent hierarchical data. The hierarchy moves outward, with the center circle representing the root node and each ring of the “sunburst” signifying a level.
To indicate several divisions within the same organizational level, rings can also be further divided. Apart from portraying a familiar or corporate hierarchy, a sunburst chart can be used to create a historical hierarchy by segmenting data according to different time periods.
24. Stream Graphs
The difference between an area chart and a stream graph is that the former is drawn around a fixed x-axis, while the latter has values presented around a central axis. It results in a flowing river-like shape.
The length and width of the streams correspond to the values on display. In large datasets with several categories, Stream charts can be used to find trends and patterns and assess how they evolve over time.
25. Control Charts
Control chart is an indicator of whether a data set is inside a predefined control range or mean. It is widely used in quality control procedures and has points representing sample data drawn on two axes.
A central line is drawn across the graph at the mean value, and the mean of each point is calculated. Next, each sample is used to compute the standard deviation from the mean. To explain the places at which deviation exceeds the intended standard, upper and lower control limits are finally defined and shown.
Final Thoughts
Now, you might be aware of the various graphs and charts and when to use them. Practically, the decision to choose the right graph is based on the type of data you have and the nature of the analysis you wish to perform.
Usually, a bar chart or radar chart is used to help with comparisons. Line charts, area charts, and other charts are used to display trends over time. Anyway, there is a vast array of graphs and charts available to you. When used appropriately, they can be an effective tool for presenting clear and professional reports and presentations.
FAQs:
1. What are the different types of graphs?
Line graphs, area charts, bar graphs, pie charts, waterfall charts, bubble charts, scatter plots, and histograms are examples of common graph types. Graphs are an excellent tool for statistics and data visualization.
2. In which graph the population can be effectively shown?
Population data can be effectively shown in a variety of graphs, including bar graphs and line graphs.
3. Why are there different types of charts?
Each form of chart has advantages and disadvantages of its own, and different types are better suited for particular data sets and objectives. Pie charts, for example, are used to show numerical proportions within datasets, whereas bar charts are used to compare data that has been categorized into several groups.