Bar Chart
Bar charts are one of the most common data visualizations. You can use them to quickly compare data across categories, highlight differences, show trends and outliers, and reveal historical highs and lows at a glance. Bar charts are especially effective when you have data that can be split into multiple categories. For example, volume of shirts in different sizes, website traffic by referrer, or percent of spending by department.
Line Chart
The line chart, or line graph, connects several distinct data points, presenting them as one continuous evolution. Use line charts to view trends in data, usually over time (like stock price changes over five years or website page views for the month). The result is a simple, straightforward way to visualize changes in one value relative to another. But line charts aren’t limited to time. Any dimension—like date types, time intervals, and other ordinal data—can be used as the horizontal axis.
Pie Chart
Pie charts are powerful ways to add detail to other visualizations. Alone, a pie chart doesn’t give the viewer a way to quickly and accurately compare information, so key points can get lost. Instead of making a pie chart the focus of your dashboard, use them alongside other charts and graphs to drill down into the data. This approach uses the pie chart’s simplicity to add information, without distracting from the larger picture.
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Which chart or graph is right for you?
