75 Ways to Visualize Your Data: A Collection of Charts and Graphs”

Kate Strachnyi
14 min readDec 27, 2022

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Here are 75 different charts & graphs that you can use for data visualization:

Photo by Maxim Berg on Unsplash
  1. Line chart: A line chart is a graphical representation of data that changes over time. It consists of a series of data points connected by straight lines. Line charts are often used to visualize trends over time, such as changes in stock prices or temperature.
  2. Bar chart: A bar chart is a graphical representation of data using horizontal or vertical bars. Bar charts are often used to compare data between different categories, such as sales by region or product type.
  3. Pie chart: A pie chart is a circular graphical representation of data, where each slice represents a different category. Pie charts are often used to visualize the proportions of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses or market share.
  4. Scatter plot: A scatter plot is a graphical representation of data using dots to represent individual data points. Scatter plots are often used to visualize the relationship between two variables, such as the relationship between age and income.
  5. Stacked bar chart: A stacked bar chart is a bar chart that shows the relationship between different data series within the same category. Each bar is divided into segments representing the data series, with the height of each segment representing the value of that series. Stacked bar charts are often used to visualize the composition of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  6. Area chart: An area chart is a line chart with the area below the line filled in. Area charts are often used to visualize trends over time, such as changes in stock prices or temperature.
  7. Heat map: A heat map is a graphical representation of data where the values are represented by colors. Heat maps are often used to visualize patterns or correlations in data, such as the relationship between different variables.
  8. Tree map: A tree map is a graphical representation of data that shows the hierarchy of the data. Each element in the hierarchy is represented by a colored rectangle, with the size of the rectangle representing the value of that element. Tree maps are often used to visualize the distribution of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  9. Box plot: A box plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the distribution of the data. It consists of a box that represents the middle 50% of the data, with lines extending from the box representing the minimum and maximum values. Box plots are often used to visualize the spread of data, such as the distribution of test scores or income.
  10. Bubble chart: A bubble chart is a scatter plot with the size of the dots representing a third variable. Bubble charts are often used to visualize the relationship between three variables, such as the relationship between age, income, and education.
  11. Pareto chart: A Pareto chart is a bar chart that shows the distribution of data, with the bars arranged in descending order. Pareto charts are often used to identify the most important factors in a given data set, such as the most common causes of defects in a manufacturing process.
  12. Marimekko chart: A Marimekko chart is a stacked bar chart where the width of each bar represents a different category. Marimekko charts are often used to visualize the distribution of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  13. Sankey diagram: A Sankey diagram is a graphical representation of data that shows the flow of data between different stages. Sankey diagrams are often used to visualize the flow of resources, such as the flow of energy or money through a system.
  14. Waterfall chart: A waterfall chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the cumulative effect of sequentially introduced positive or negative values. Waterfall charts are often used to visualize the changes in a value over time, such as the changes in a company’s net income.
  15. Stream graph: A stream graph is a stacked area chart that shows the changes in data over time. Stream graphs are often used to visualize the flow of data, such as the flow of traffic or social media activity.
  16. Radar chart: A radar chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the values of different variables on different axes. Radar charts are often used to compare data between different categories, such as the performance of different products or teams.
  17. Sunburst chart: A sunburst chart is a radial stacked bar chart that shows the hierarchy of the data. Each level of the hierarchy is represented by a different ring, with the size of each segment representing the value of that element. Sunburst charts are often used to visualize the distribution of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  18. Sparkline: A sparkline is a small line chart that is used to visualize trends over time. Sparklines are often used to display data in a compact format, such as in a table or dashboard.
  19. Funnel chart: A funnel chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the flow of data from one stage to another. Funnel charts are often used to visualize the stages of a process, such as the steps in a sales funnel.
  20. Gauge chart: A gauge chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the current value of a metric within a predetermined range. Gauge charts are often used to visualize the progress towards a goal, such as the percentage of a project that has been completed.
  21. Dorling cartogram: A Dorling cartogram is a map that uses the size of symbols to represent data values. Dorling cartograms are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the population density of different regions.
  22. Word cloud: A word cloud is a graphical representation of data that shows the frequency of words in a text. Word clouds are often used to visualize the most common words in a document or to highlight the main themes of a text.
  23. Mosaic plot: A mosaic plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the relationship between multiple variables. Mosaic plots are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the distribution of income by age and education.
  24. Venn diagram: A Venn diagram is a graphical representation of data that shows the overlap between different sets. Venn diagrams are often used to visualize the relationships between different categories, such as the overlap between different customer segments.
  25. Bubble map: A bubble map is a map that uses the size of symbols to represent data values. Bubble maps are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the population density of different regions.
  26. Chord diagram: A chord diagram is a graphical representation of data that shows the relationships between different categories. Chord diagrams are often used to visualize the flow of data, such as the flow of trade between different countries.
  27. Star plot: A star plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the values of different variables on different axes. Star plots are often used to compare data between different categories, such as the performance of different products or teams.
  28. Hexbin plot: A hexbin plot is a scatter plot where the data points are aggregated into hexagonal bins. Hexbin plots are often used to visualize the density of data, such as the density of traffic or population.
  29. Population pyramid: A population pyramid is a graphical representation of data that shows the age and gender distribution of a population. Population pyramids are often used to visualize the demographics of a population and identify trends, such as the aging of a population or the gender balance.
  30. Alluvial diagram: An alluvial diagram is a graphical representation of data that shows the flow of data between different stages. Alluvial diagrams are often used to visualize the flow of resources, such as the flow of energy or money through a system.
  31. Multiple line chart: A multiple line chart is a line chart with multiple lines representing different data series. Multiple line charts are often used to compare data between different categories, such as the sales of different products or the performance of different teams.
  32. Clustered bar chart: A clustered bar chart is a bar chart with multiple bars representing different data series. Clustered bar charts are often used to compare data between different categories, such as the sales of different products or the performance of different teams.
  33. Stem-and-leaf plot: A stem-and-leaf plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the distribution of the data. It consists of a stem representing the tens digit and a leaf representing the units digit, with the frequency of each value represented by the number of leaves. Stem-and-leaf plots are often used to visualize the spread of data, such as the distribution of test scores or income.
  34. Doughnut chart: A doughnut chart is a circular chart that is similar to a pie chart, but with a hole in the center. Doughnut charts are often used to visualize the proportions of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses or market share.
  35. Lollipop chart: A lollipop chart is a bar chart with a dot at the top of each bar representing the value of the data. Lollipop charts are often used to visualize the changes in a value over time, such as the changes in a company’s stock price.
  36. Horizontal bar chart: A horizontal bar chart is a bar chart with the bars arranged horizontally. Horizontal bar charts are often used to compare data between different categories, such as the sales of different products or the performance of different teams.
  37. Dot plot: A dot plot is a graphical representation of data where each data point is represented by a dot. Dot plots are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the distribution of test scores or income.
  38. Tree diagram: A tree diagram is a graphical representation of data that shows the hierarchy of the data. Each element in the hierarchy is represented by a node, with the relationships between the elements represented by lines connecting the nodes. Tree diagrams are often used to visualize the structure of a system, such as the structure of an organization or the relationships between different data points.
  39. Time series plot: A time series plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the values of a variable over time. Time series plots are often used to visualize trends over time, such as changes in stock prices or temperature.
  40. Kernel density plot: A kernel density plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the distribution of the data. It is similar to a histogram, but instead of using bars, it uses a smooth curve to represent the distribution. Kernel density plots are often used to visualize the spread of data, such as the distribution of test scores or income.
  41. Stem plot: A stem plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the distribution of the data. It consists of a stem representing the tens digit and a leaf representing the units digit, with the frequency of each value represented by the number of leaves. Stem plots are often used to visualize the spread of data, such as the distribution of test scores or income.
  42. Segmented bar chart: A segmented bar chart is a bar chart with multiple bars representing different data series. The bars are divided into segments representing the data series, with the height of each segment representing the value of that series. Segmented bar charts are often used to visualize the composition of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  43. Event stream graph: An event stream graph is a graphical representation of data that shows the flow of events over time. Event stream graphs are often used to visualize the flow of data, such as the flow of traffic or social media activity.
  44. Fan chart: A fan chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the uncertainty of a forecast. It consists of a central line representing the forecast, with lines extending from the central line representing the range of uncertainty. Fan charts are often used to visualize the uncertainty of a forecast, such as the uncertainty of a financial projection or weather forecast.
  45. Dual-axis chart: A dual-axis chart is a chart with two axes, each representing a different variable. Dual-axis charts are often used to compare data between different scales, such as the relationship between sales and profit.
  46. Candle stick chart: A candlestick chart is a graphical representation of data used in technical analysis of stock prices. It consists of a series of bars representing the high and low prices of a stock over a given period, with the open and close prices represented by a wick on each end. Candlestick charts are often used to visualize the trends in stock prices and identify potential buying or selling opportunities.
  47. Choropleth chart: A choropleth chart is a graphical representation of data that uses color to represent data values. Choropleth charts are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the population density of different regions.
  48. Violin plot: A violin plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the distribution of the data. It is similar to a box plot, but instead of a box, it uses a violin-shaped curve to represent the distribution. Violin plots are often used to visualize the spread of data, such as the distribution of test scores or income.
  49. Filled area chart: A filled area chart is an area chart with the area below the line filled in. Filled area charts are often used to visualize trends over time, such as changes in stock prices or temperature.
  50. Step chart: A step chart is a line chart where the data points are connected by horizontal and vertical lines, creating a step-like appearance. Step charts are often used to visualize the changes in a value over time, such as the changes in a company’s stock price.
  51. Diverging bar chart: A diverging bar chart is a bar chart that shows the difference between two values. The bars are arranged such that the value being compared is in the middle, with bars extending out in opposite directions representing the difference between the two values. Diverging bar charts are often used to visualize the difference between two values, such as the difference between budget and actual spending.
  52. Self-organizing map: A self-organizing map is a type of artificial neural network that is used to visualize the relationships between different data points. Self-organizing maps are often used to cluster data into groups and identify patterns in the data.
  53. Parallel coordinates plot: A parallel coordinates plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the values of multiple variables on different axes. Parallel coordinates plots are often used to visualize the relationships between different variables, such as the relationship between age, income, and education.
  54. Slope chart: A slope chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the change in a value over time. Slope charts are often used to visualize the trend of a value over time, such as the trend of a company’s stock price.
  55. Bar chart race: A bar chart race is a type of animated chart that shows the changes in the rank of different categories over time. Bar chart races are often used to visualize the changing rankings of different items, such as the most popular brands or countries by population.
  56. Trellis plot: A trellis plot is a graphical representation of data that shows the relationship between multiple variables. Trellis plots are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the distribution of income by age and education.
  57. Multilevel pie chart: A multilevel pie chart is a pie chart that shows the hierarchy of the data. Each level of the hierarchy is represented by a different pie, with the size of each slice representing the value of that element. Multilevel pie charts are often used to visualize the distribution of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  58. Stacked area chart: A stacked area chart is an area chart where each data series is stacked on top of the previous one. Stacked area charts are often used to visualize the composition of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  59. Radar chart: A radar chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the values of different variables on different axes. Radar charts are often used to compare data between different categories, such as the performance of different products or teams.
  60. Bubble chart: A bubble chart is a scatter plot with the size of the dots representing a third variable. Bubble charts are often used to visualize the relationship between three variables, such as the relationship between age, income, and education.
  61. Clustered column chart: A clustered column chart is a column chart with multiple columns representing different data series. Clustered column charts are often used to compare data between different categories, such as the sales of different products or the performance of different teams.
  62. Nested pie chart: A nested pie chart is a pie chart that shows the hierarchy of the data. Each level of the hierarchy is represented by a different ring, with the size of each slice representing the value of that element. Nested pie charts are often used to visualize the distribution of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  63. Dot distribution map: A dot distribution map is a map that uses the size and color of symbols to represent data values. Dot distribution maps are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the population density of different regions.
  64. Proportional symbol map: A proportional symbol map is a map that uses the size of symbols to represent data values. Proportional symbol maps are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the population density of different regions.
  65. Isoline map: An isoline map is a map that shows lines connecting points of equal value. Isoline maps are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the temperature or elevation of different locations.
  66. Dot plot: A dot plot is a graphical representation of data where each data point is represented by a dot. Dot plots are often used to visualize the distribution of data, such as the distribution of test scores or income.
  67. Spaghetti plot: A spaghetti plot is a line chart where multiple lines representing different data series are overlaid on top of each other. Spaghetti plots are often used to visualize the relationship between multiple variables, such as the relationship between age, income, and education.
  68. Waffle chart: A waffle chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the proportions of a whole. It consists of a grid of squares, with each square representing a percentage of the whole. Waffle charts are often used to visualize the composition of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  69. Timetable chart: A timetable chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the times and duration of events. Timetable charts are often used to visualize schedules or itineraries, such as the schedule of flights or the timetable of a conference.
  70. Flow diagram: A flow diagram is a graphical representation of data that shows the flow of data between different stages. Flow diagrams are often used to visualize the steps in a process, such as the steps in a manufacturing process or the flow of information in a system.
  71. Heatmap calendar: A heatmap calendar is a graphical representation of data that shows the values of a variable over time. The values are represented by colors, with the intensity of the color representing the magnitude of the value. Heatmap calendars are often used to visualize trends over time, such as the frequency of events or the volume of sales.
  72. Gantt chart: A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the start and end times of tasks in a project. Gantt charts are often used to visualize the progress of a project, such as the completion of tasks or the allocation of resources.
  73. Marimekko chart: A Marimekko chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the proportions of a whole. It consists of a grid of rectangles, with the size of each rectangle representing the value of that element. Marimekko charts are often used to visualize the composition of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.
  74. Circle packing chart: A circle packing chart is a graphical representation of data that shows the hierarchy of the data. Each element in the hierarchy is represented by a circle, with the size of the circle representing the value of that element. Circle packing charts are often used to visualize the distribution of a whole, such as the distribution of expenses by category.

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