Introduction to Charts and Graphs
Dashboard widgets, commonly known as charts and graphs, play a crucial role in enhancing the clarity and understandability of data. This section delves into the classification of charts and types of visualizations used in data analysis, offering insights into their appropriate use. Understanding the different types of charts and when to use each type can significantly improve the clarity and impact of your visualizations. For example, bar charts are effective for comparing values across different categories, while line charts are ideal for illustrating trends over time. Some common classification for data visualization include:
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Change Over Time: Line charts and area charts are commonly used to visualize trends and changes in data over time. These visualizations make it easy to identify patterns and fluctuations in data.
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Part-to-Whole: Pie charts and stacked bar charts are examples of charts for illustrating how individual parts contribute to a whole. They are effective in showing proportions and percentages within a dataset.
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Data Distribution: Data distribution charts provide insights into the spread and central tendency of a dataset. Histograms and box plots are few examples used to visualize the distribution of data.
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Comparison: Comparison charts help you to identify differences and trends across groups. Bar/Column charts and grouped bar/column charts are ideal for comparing values between different groups or categories.
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Relationships: Relationship charts help identify correlations and patterns in data. Scatter plots and bubble charts are examples used to visualize relationships between variables.
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Geographical Data: Maps widgets are generally used to visualize geographical data. These visualizations help identify trends in data related to specific locations.
Below is the classification of the charts under the relevant categories. This classification helps identify which chart type is most suitable for the data story, ensuring the visuals are both effective and easy to understand.
| Category | Chart Types |
|---|---|
| Change Over Time | Line, Area, Inverted Area Chart, Bubble Line, Theme River, Candle Stick |
| Part-to-Whole | Pie, Polar, SunBurst, Treemap, Circular Gauge, Ring Progress Widget, Funnel, Waterfall |
| Data Distribution | Box Plot, Scatter, Scatter Single Axis, Bubble, Block Matrix, Calendar |
| Comparison | Bar, Column, Pictorial Bar, Multi Measure, Multi Measure Radar, Multi Dimension Radar, Gauge, Progress Widget, Segment Widget, Table, Pivot |
| Relationships | Scatter, Bubble, Chord, Alluvial, Parallel Axis, TreeNode |
| Geographical Data | Maps |
| Specialized Visuals | Word Cloud, Label Widget, Pareto |
Let us now understand the charts in detail.