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Area and Stacked Area Chart

An area chart is a type of chart that is a combination of line chart and bar chart. The area between the line and the x-axis is filled with color or shading. Area charts are commonly used to represent cumulative totals over time and to show the composition of a whole.

Area chart

When to Use an Area/Stacked Area Chart

  • Showing Trends Over Time: Area charts are most commonly used to show trends over time, similar to line charts.

  • Comparing Categories: Area charts can be used to compare the trends of different categories or groups.

  • Showing Cumulative Total Values: Area charts are effective for highlighting cumulative totals over time.

  • Part to Whole: Area charts can also be used to visualize the composition of a whole.

  • Showing Patterns: Area charts can help identify patterns or trends in the data.

Do’s:

  • Use a legend or data labels to provide additional information about each category or group.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t use when you have a small number of data points.

  • Don’t use when the data points are not evenly spaced or when there are gaps in the data.

  • Don’t overcrowd the chart with too many categories or groups.