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Achart (sometimes known as agraph) is agraphical representation fordata visualization, in which "thedata is represented bysymbols, such as bars in abar chart, lines in aline chart, or slices in apie chart".[1] A chart can representtabularnumeric data,functions or some kinds ofquality structure and provides different info.
The term "chart" as a graphical representation ofdata has multiple meanings:
Charts are often used to ease understanding of large quantities of data and the relationships between parts of the data. Charts can usually be read more quickly than the raw data. They are used in a wide variety of fields, and can be created by hand (often ongraph paper) or by computer using acharting application. Certain types of charts are more useful for presenting a given data set than others. For example, data that presentspercentages in different groups (such as "satisfied, not satisfied, unsure") are often displayed in apie chart, but maybe more easily understood when presented in a horizontalbar chart.[2] On the other hand, data that represents numbers that change over a period of time (such as "annual revenue from 1990 to 2000") might be best shown as aline chart.
A chart can take a large variety of forms. However, there are common features that provide the chart with its ability to extract meaning from data.
Typically the data in a chart is represented graphically since humans can infer meaning from pictures more quickly than from text. Thus, the text is generally used only to annotate the data.
One of the most important uses of text in a graph is thetitle. A graph's title usually appears above the main graphic and provides a succinct description of what the data in the graph refers to.
Dimensions in the data are often displayed onaxes. If a horizontal and a vertical axis are used, they are usually referred to as the x-axis and y-axis. Each axis will have ascale, denoted by periodic graduations and usually accompanied by numerical or categorical indications. Each axis will typically also have a label displayed outside or beside it, briefly describing the dimension represented. If the scale is numerical, the label will often be suffixed with the unit of that scale in parentheses. For example, "Distance traveled (m)" is a typical x-axis label and would mean that the distance traveled, in units of meters, is related to the horizontal position of the data within the chart.
Within the graph, agrid of lines may appear to aid in the visual alignment of data. The grid can be enhanced by visually emphasizing the lines at regular or significant graduations. The emphasized lines are then called major gridlines, and the remainder is minor grid lines.
A chart's data can appear in all manner of formats and may include individual textuallabels describing the datum associated with the indicated position in the chart. The data may appear as dots or shapes, connected or unconnected, and in any combination of colors and patterns. In addition, inferences or points of interest can be overlaid directly on the graph to further aid information extraction.
When the data appearing in a chart contains multiple variables, the chart may include alegend (also known as akey). A legend contains a list of the variables appearing in the chart and an example of their appearance. This information allows the data from each variable to be identified in the chart.
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Four of the most common charts are:
This gallery shows:
Other common charts are:
.png)
Examples of less common charts are:
.svg)
This gallery shows:
Some types of charts have specific uses in a certain field
This gallery shows:
Other examples:
Some of the better-known named charts are:
Some specific charts have become well known by effectively explaining a phenomenon or idea.
There are dozens of other types of charts. Here are some of them:
One more example:Bernal chart
While charts can be drawn by hand, computer software is often used to automatically produce a chart based on entered data. For examples of commonly used software tools, seeList of charting software.
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