From businesses to governments, the world is regularly using data-driven charts to quantify the information they need. With the advances in data visualization and analytics, charts have become a powerful tool in data analysis. But while there’s an abundance of chart types to choose from, there are some charts that should be used more than others.
From start-up entrepreneurs to veteran business analysts, here are 29 Must-See Charts that You Can Start Using Today:
1. Line Graphs: Useful for analyzing trends over time, line graphs show the relationship between two variables. It is easy to pick up on any peaks, dips, and other patterns in the data.
2. Bar Graphs: A classic favorite, bar graphs are versatile tools for comparing values. Easily compare values between up to five categories in a single view.
3. Pie Charts: This easily recognizable chart is great for quickly visualizing the proportions of an entire data set or for comparing proportions among different groups or individuals.
4. Gantt Charts: These complex charts take project management to the next level. It makes it easier to see how tasks fit into a timeline.
5. Histograms: Track the distribution of a data set with a histogram. A single histogram can summarize an entire data set while also offering granular details about the data.
6. Stacked Bar/Area Graphs: When you need to compare and analyze several parts in a data set, a stacked bar or area graph does the job. It breaks down the components of a data set and compares them against each other side by side.
7. Scatter Plots: Looking to see how two variables in your data set correlate? This type of chart quickly visualize a correlation or lack thereof.
8. Bullet Graphs: Comparing a performance measure to a measure of achievement, bullet graphs are useful for displaying constructive performance information.
9. Heat Maps: Perfect for identifying patterns quickly, heat maps are especially useful for analyzing geospatial data.
10. Word Clouds: If you’re looking for an eye-catching way to communicate data, word clouds are the way to go. They provide a quick overview of a text-based data set.
11. Bubble Charts: Not a fan of the 2-dimensional pie chart? Bubble charts offer a 3-dimensional alternative. It is an ideal way to display multivariate data.
12. Radar Charts: Also known as spiders or web charts, radar charts are great for comparing the relative sizes of items within a set.
13. Dendrograms: Great for representing hierarchical data, dendrograms show how data is related or connected.
14. Waterfall Charts: Want to track the progressive nature of your data? A waterfall chart makes any flow clearly visible.
15. Tree Maps: When you want to compare categorical data against one another, tree maps provide an effective way to visualize data.
16. Mekko Charts: Sometimes referred to as marimekko or variable width bar chart, these are perfect for visualizing market share or other categorical data.
17. Force-Directed Graphs: Not sure how to represent relationships in data sets? Force-directed graphs make it easier to see the interconnected nature of a dataset.
18. Sankey Diagrams: Looking to understand how a data set evolved over time? Sankey diagrams efficiently show the flow of data between stages.
19. Map Charts: Nothing more than a basic data map, this type of chart is great for providing a geographical element to your data.
20. Connection Maps: Taking data mapping to the next step, connection maps can show correlations between different items.
21. Waffle Charts: Combining two types of data, waffle charts quickly show the breakdown of categories.
22. Timelines: Gantt charts aren’t the only way to visualize project management. Timelines are useful for showing the various stages of a project.
23. Tag Clouds: Summarizing unstructured data like themes or topics, tag clouds are visually stimulating and are well-suited for modern websites.
24. Parallel Coordinates: Dealing with a multi-dimensional dataset? Parallel coordinates are your go-to chart for this.
25. Funnels: Funnels are great for understanding how well a website or application can lead users through a process.
26. Sparklines: Need to display data in an unobtrusive way? sparklines provide the perfect way to summarize data without taking up too much space.
27. Treemaps: Breaking down comprehensive data sets can be difficult. Treemaps make it easier to understand relationships in categorical data.
28. Sunburst Charts: Sunburst charts are great for summarizing hierarchical data. These donut-like charts provide a 360-degree view of the data relationships.
29. Network Diagrams: Identifying relationships in complex data sets can be difficult. Network diagrams make it easy to visualize all the connections in a dataset.
All of these charts are must-see and have the potential to make data analysis and visualization much easier. They can help to identify trends, correlations, and outliers in data sets and ultimately help to make data-driven decisions. So, what are you waiting for? Start utilizing these charts to get the most out of your data today!