I usually discover uncooked knowledge overwhelming — infinite rows of numbers might be arduous to decipher. That is why I like knowledge visualization; it transforms complicated figures into clear, intuitive charts that assist me rapidly spot developments and perceive the story behind the numbers.
Visible charts and graphs not solely save me treasured time but additionally empower me to make higher choices by contextualizing info in a means that uncooked knowledge simply can‘t.
On this article, I’ll clarify what knowledge visualization is and share some knowledge visualization greatest practices that can assist you get began.
Desk of Contents
What’s knowledge visualization?
Knowledge visualization permits you to arrange knowledge in a means that is each compelling and straightforward to digest.
It is about representing knowledge in a visible context, corresponding to a chart or a map, to assist anybody viewing it higher perceive the importance of that knowledge.
How does knowledge visualization work?
Whereas knowledge shared through textual content might be complicated (to not point out bland), knowledge represented in a visible format may also help individuals extract that means from that info extra rapidly and simply.
Knowledge visualization permits you to expose patterns, developments, and correlations that will in any other case go undetected,
Static vs. Interactive Knowledge Visualization
Knowledge visualization might be static or interactive. For hundreds of years, individuals have been utilizing static knowledge visualization like charts and maps.
Interactive knowledge visualization is a bit bit newer: It lets individuals drill down into the soiled particulars of those charts and graphs utilizing their computer systems and cellular gadgets,after which change which knowledge they see and the way it’s processed.
Time Collection Visualization
Along with static and interactive knowledge visualization, you might also hear the time period time sequence visualization. Time sequence visualization is what it appears like — visuals that observe knowledge, or efficiency, over a time frame.
That is necessary as a result of a serious motive why individuals wish to give attention to knowledge visualization is to indicate adjustments in variables over time.
Time Collection Knowledge Visualization Examples
There are various methods to make use of time-series knowledge visualization — you‘ll study extra about these beneath, however right here’s a fast record to offer you a greater understanding of which visuals are thought-about time-series visuals.
Line chart
Bar chart
Space chart
Bullet graph
Featured Information: An Introduction to Knowledge Visualization
Discover ways to apply knowledge visualization greatest practices in your advertising with this free information.
How one can Visualize Knowledge: 10 Approaches
1. Line Chart
Supply
A line chart is a simple instrument for visualizing knowledge developments over time. It really works by connecting particular person knowledge factors with a line, which makes it straightforward so that you can see patterns and adjustments throughout totally different time intervals.
You should utilize a line chart to trace a single knowledge sequence or examine a number of sequence concurrently. It’s significantly helpful for highlighting developments, recognizing fluctuations, and understanding general progress in your knowledge.
2. Bar Chart
Supply
A bar chart makes use of rectangular bars to signify values, with the size or top of every bar akin to the amount it represents. Any such chart is very helpful if you wish to spotlight variations throughout numerous teams or objects at a look.
Whether or not the bars are displayed vertically or horizontally, a bar chart makes it straightforward to see which classes stand out, serving to you to rapidly analyze and talk your knowledge.
For instance, say you’ve got been utilizing Casted to your content material advertising and have to report on which medium is performing greatest. You may pull knowledge reviews from the dashboard to visualise the information for key stakeholders.
3. Scatter Chart
Supply
A scatter chart is a useful gizmo for analyzing the connection between two variables by plotting particular person knowledge factors on a coordinate airplane. Every level represents an commentary, permitting you to see patterns, correlations, or outliers in your knowledge.
Any such visualization is good for exploring how adjustments in a single variable may relate to adjustments in one other. It provides you insights into developments and relationships that may not be instantly obvious.
4. Space Chart
Supply
An space chart is just like a line chart however fills within the area beneath the road, which helps emphasize the amount of change over time. This visible illustration is helpful if you wish to present cumulative totals or spotlight how totally different components contribute to the entire.
By filling within the space beneath the pattern line, an space chart could make it simpler to identify patterns, examine magnitudes, and perceive the general affect of the information.
5. Map Chart
Supply
A map chart shows knowledge on a geographic map, which makes it straightforward to see how values differ throughout areas or places. It makes use of colours, symbols, or shading to signify numerous knowledge factors in areas like nations, states, or cities.
Any such chart is very useful if you wish to spotlight regional developments or examine knowledge geographically. With a map chart, you may rapidly establish patterns, clusters, or outliers which might be tied to particular areas of the world.
6. Indicator Chart
Supply
An indicator chart normally exhibits a number of giant numerical values, usually accompanied by visible cues like colours or icons (e.g., gauge, ticker), to rapidly talk whether or not a metric is assembly its goal or requires consideration.
You should utilize an indicator chart to observe efficiency over time, examine present values in opposition to objectives, or spotlight necessary knowledge factors on a dashboard. Its clear and direct presentation makes it straightforward so that you can instantly perceive the standing of a crucial measurement with out digging into extra detailed knowledge.
7. Pivot Desk
Supply
A pivot desk is a flexible instrument that helps you rapidly summarize and analyze giant knowledge units. It permits you to reorganize uncooked knowledge right into a structured format by grouping and aggregating key values, corresponding to sums, averages, or counts.
With a pivot desk, you may simply examine totally different classes or time durations and uncover patterns that may not be seen within the authentic knowledge.
8. Bullet Graph
Supply
A bullet graph is designed to indicate progress towards a goal in a transparent and space-efficient method. It usually encompasses a horizontal bar that represents the primary measure, together with markers that point out goal values or efficiency ranges.
Any such chart is very helpful on dashboards, the place it supplies a fast snapshot of how properly a metric is performing in opposition to set objectives. By evaluating the size of the bar to the reference markers, you may simply assess whether or not a price is inside a suitable vary or if it wants consideration.
9. Field Plot
Supply
A field plot is a statistical visualization that summarizes a dataset utilizing its quartiles and highlights any outliers. It shows a field that represents the interquartile vary, with a line inside indicating the median and “whiskers” that stretch to indicate the vary of the information.
This chart is helpful for rapidly understanding the central tendency, unfold, and symmetry of your knowledge, in addition to figuring out any uncommon observations.
10. Pie Chart
Supply
A pie chart is a round graph divided into slices, the place every slice represents part of the entire. Any such chart is very helpful if you wish to present how particular person classes contribute to an general complete. By displaying knowledge in proportional segments, a pie chart permits you to rapidly grasp the relative measurement of every class at a look.
Nevertheless, it is simplest when used with a restricted variety of classes to maintain the visualization clear and straightforward to know.
Able to really feel impressed? Let’s check out some nice examples to encourage your knowledge visualization concepts.
Examples of Knowledge Visualization
Beneath are 20 examples of knowledge visualization, cut up into two main sections: static and interactive knowledge visualization.
Examples of Static Knowledge Visualization
1. United States City Inhabitants
Supply
This chart goals to indicate the expansion of the agricultural inhabitants versus the city inhabitants in the US between 1955 and 2024. On the graph, the agricultural inhabitants is inexperienced, whereas the city inhabitants is blue.
What I like: This graph doesn’t make you do any calculations to determine precisely what the agricultural or city populations are. As a substitute, if you hover over a bar, you may see the precise determine and proportion of each populations in that particular yr.
2. International Warming
Supply
On this chart, the World Meteorological Group goals to indicate the rise in world imply temperature during the last two centuries. The chart shows knowledge from six world floor temperature datasets used to trace and analyze the common temperature of the Earth’s floor over time.
In response to all six datasets, 2024 was the warmest yr on report, with a world imply floor air temperature of 1.54C.
What I like: The graph represents every dataset with a distinct shade so you may see when and the way they converge. So, whereas there could also be some slight variations between at the very least three datasets for the years 1860 by way of 1880, all six agree that the worldwide floor temperature has been rising steadily since 1970 on the identical ranges.
3. The Introduction of Generative AI
Supply
This pie chart goals to indicate the software program classes that will probably be affected by the rise of generative synthetic intelligence (AI). It additionally exhibits the levels to which every classes will probably be disrupted. For instance, content material creation would possible be affected probably the most by generative AI, whereas system infrastructure could be affected the least.
What I like: I like how straightforward it’s to learn the information on this pie chart. The names of the industries are clearly listed, in addition to their particular person financial values. There’s additionally a shade scheme that permits you to know the extent of disruption/reimagination every class will endure. So, at first look, what you’re and what it means.
4. Labor Provide Progress in Totally different International locations
Supply
As a substitute of utilizing eight different-colored traces on a single graph to signify this knowledge, this chart includes eight distinct charts for every nation. Every chart depicts the precise labor provide progress in that nation from 2010 to 2023 after which the projected progress from 2023 to 2030.
What I like: If the traces don’t converge in some unspecified time in the future (like within the world warming chart), a stacked line chart is usually a bit troublesome to learn. I like that McKinsey determined to separate all eight charts and make the information straightforward to learn.
I ought to be aware, although, that the purpose of those charts isn’t to know the precise determine of labor provide. As a substitute, the visualization notes the place labor provide has been rising and can proceed to develop (or not).
5. Workforce of B Corps
Supply
This pictogram goals to indicate the inhabitants of the workforce of the B Corps by sector. It divides the workforce into 5 sectors: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Service, Service with Important Environmental Footprint, and Wholesale/Retail. Then, it makes use of different-colored pictograms to depict the variety of B Corps workforce in every sector.
What I like: Pictograms are a neat and fascinating method to show knowledge, particularly if you’re in a position to hover over every variable and get the precise quantity/worth of the information. For instance, on this chart, hovering over the yellow pictogram (which represents Service) exhibits that the inhabitants of the B Corps workforce in that sector is 230,160.
6. Well-liked Opinion of China Over Time in Choose Indo-Pacific Nations
Supply
This chart depicts the outcomes of 5 surveys wherein 1,000 – 1,700 respondents have been requested, “If the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been compelled to align itself with one of many strategic rivals, which one ought to it select?” The rivals in query are China and the US, and the surveys have been completed yearly from 2020 to 2024.
What I like: On the high of the chart, there’s an aggregated graph compiling the solutions of all of the member nations of ASEAN, which decided that, as of 2024, they’d slightly facet with China than with the US.
Nevertheless, I like that the charts beneath break down how respondents from every member nation responded through the years. Whenever you hover over the purple or blue bars, you see the odds of people that picked both possibility.
7. Goal Candlestick Chart
Supply
This boxplot chart follows the motion of Goal’s inventory available in the market over the previous week. Every candlestick represents sure values that present merchants/buyers when it’s okay to enter or exit the market to maximise income and decrease loss.
What I like: Newbie merchants/buyers (like me, for instance) won’t be capable of have a look at the candlestick patterns and instantly know what they imply. So, I recognize that hovering over every candlestick reveals necessary values like Open, Excessive, Low, Shut, and Quantity, which may inform my buying and selling choices.
9. Recognition of Basketball and Soccer in the US
Supply
In 2024, Statista surveyed 17,639 American adults who adopted sports activities and requested them which one they adopted: American soccer, basketball, or each. These adults ranged from 18-64 years previous, so Statista broke them up into 5 classes primarily based on age and plotted their solutions on this bar chart.
What I like: I like how every variable was represented with two extremely contrasting colours and the way the odds are put atop every bar. This ensures that, at first look, you may glean info from the chart. For instance, I instantly know that People between the ages of 35 and 44 comply with American soccer greater than they do basketball.
Examples of Interactive Knowledge Visualization
10. Non-public Fairness Curiosity in Mining
Supply
This infographic-like chart exhibits the historical past of personal fairness’s curiosity in mining. It begins with a breakdown of the ten largest mining-focused funds to have closed traditionally, with the colours of the tree stumps signifying the places of the funds (e.g., North America, Asia-Pacific, and multi-regional).
It’s a extremely lengthy graph (solely half of it’s within the screenshot above), and as you scroll, the knowledge, graphics, numbers, and so forth., slide onto/seem on the web page.
What I like: This interactive chart is made up of various sorts of graphs, together with pictograms and bar graphs. I like how the chart compiled all this knowledge in an enticing and reader-friendly method.
11. How Totally different Nations Strategy Governance
Supply
There’s no particular reply to the query of what function the federal government ought to play in on a regular basis individuals’s lives. Nevertheless, this interactive visualization helps you to discover how totally different nations strategy governance immediately.
It measures a number of indicators, together with the rule of legislation, management of corruption, judicial effectiveness rating, authorities integrity rating, property rights rating, tax burden rating, general financial freedom rating, monetary freedom, and life expectancy, amongst others.
What I like: I like how in-depth this interactive visualization is. Not solely does it present you the scores of various nations primarily based on one of many a number of indicators it measures for, but it surely additionally has totally different chart sorts that can assist you uncover developments and interpret the mountain of knowledge higher.
For instance, if I wish to see the main points of Malaysia’s management of corruption, I might click on on it and get details about Malaysia’s Gross Home Product (GDP), GDP progress, well being expenditure charge, employment charge, authorities spending rating, faculty life expectancy, and extra.
12. NASA’s Eclipse Explorer
Supply
NASA created this interactive map to assist individuals who’d wish to witness a photo voltaic eclipse know when one will probably be occurring of their location. On the map, you may lookup your metropolis, zoom out and in of the map, and get info on when the subsequent eclipse is estimated to occur.
What I like: I like that the knowledge is spelled out for individuals, however they’re nonetheless in a position to dictate what they’re in search of. For instance, I looked for Delaware, Ohio on the map. It instantly introduced up details about the subsequent eclipse to occur within the metropolis, what time it’s going to occur, how lengthy complete protection will final, and even the estimated temperature of that day.
13. North Korea’s Trash Balloons Defined
Supply
For this interactive visualization, Reuters takes the storytelling route to elucidate the balloons North Korea launched into South Korea final yr. The visualization includes principally purple balloons with different baggage connected to the ends, symbolizing the luggage of trash/manure that North Korea connected to the ends of the balloons it launched into South Korea.
What I like: This visualization takes you on a journey. Whenever you first scroll, there are tons of balloons to offer you an concept of the size of the balloon launches. Then, the variety of balloons will probably be diminished relative to the batches that North Korea despatched.
I like how Reuters accompanies every wave of balloons with some details about the dates North Korea despatched it and what number of balloons it despatched.
14. Parallel Lives
Supply
This Parallel Lives interactive visualization is a database of outstanding historic figures. These figures are grouped into three classes primarily based on their professions and affect: Tradition, Discovery/Science, and Management.
This graph begins at 3,345 BC, and as you scroll down the graph (and down the years), you see the names of outstanding individuals who existed on the identical time throughout these classes. For instance, in 486 BC, Euripides, Socrates, and Pericles have been all alive, though they have been 12, 2, and 26 years previous, respectively.
What I like: I like how this visualization permits you to contextualize the lives of those figures in relation to at least one one other. It supplies their names, professions, and ages, which provides you a broad have a look at what life may’ve been like at the moment, particularly if stated figures existed in numerous components of the world.
15. The Wealth Disparity Hole
Supply
The bigger a quantity is, the more durable it turns into to mentally image and perceive simply how giant it’s. So, whereas most individuals know the distinction between $100 and $1,000, lots of people (myself included) can’t actually image $1 billion, not to mention $320 billion (Elon Musk’s web value).
With this interactive visualization, Jason Zhang (the creator) makes use of acquainted objects to assist of us perceive the rising wealth disparity and its societal implications.
What I like: Similar to the Reuters visualization, I like how Jason used objects individuals see pretty usually to assist individuals contextualize wealth.
For instance, this visualization explains that $320 billion is identical as stacking checks of $1 million every atop one another until they attain the peak of a 10-story constructing. It additionally notes that even if you happen to (and I) make $1 million per hour (I want!), it’ll nonetheless take over 100 years to make as a lot cash as Elon Musk.
That description alone makes it straightforward for me to know the wealth disparity hole between the higher 1% and the remainder of us.
16. Is the Love Tune Dying?
Supply
The creators of this enjoyable and insightful visualization wished to discover the concept that love songs are dying. To try this, it analyzed all 5,100 Billboard Prime 10 hits from 1958 to 2023 and remoted the love songs from the bunch.
The visualization then put these love songs in numerous classes (e.g., Serenades, Heartache, Pursuit, It’s Sophisticated, and so forth.) and plotted them on a chart to see in the event that they’ve elevated or declined through the years.
What I like: This knowledge visualization is available in 25 slides, and I like how the creators, David Mora and Michelle Jia, created a story for every slide to elucidate the totally different varieties of affection songs and the evolution of this style during the last 5-6 a long time.
17. Most Well-liked Thanksgiving Pies Throughout the U.S.
Supply
Many American households get pleasure from pie on Thanksgiving, however the flavors they select differ considerably throughout totally different states. Utilizing the Google Developments knowledge from October 26 to November 26, 2024, Sherwood Information created an interactive choropleth map exhibiting probably the most googled pie sorts by state.
What I like: Due to the colours, I can instantly inform that pumpkin pie dominated the Google searches in most American States. Nevertheless, the map goes on to supply extra info after I click on on a selected state.
So, whereas pumpkin pie was the most well-liked in California (53%), the map additionally exhibits that 33% of households searched “apple pie” and 14% searched “pecan pie.”
18. Sitters and Standers
Supply
Over the past 5 a long time, work in America has change into far much less bodily. Farm work and manufacturing unit work that require standing are more and more being changed by desk jobs, that are sedentary.
The Pudding developed this interactive scatter plot that exhibits the divide between occupations the place staff usually stand and people the place they usually sit in relation to your personal job (whether or not you sit or stand).
Every sq. represents a selected occupation, with every individual icon inside it representing 50,000 People in that function. The occupations are organized horizontally, with “sitter” jobs on the left and “stander” jobs on the fitting.
What I like: I like how this interactive scatter plot permits you to zoom out and in to discover the roles in the midst of this divide. It additionally plots for various job attributes, corresponding to the power to decide on whether or not to take a seat or stand, training ranges, earnings, alternatives to pause work, and publicity to environmental components.
19. Iran and South China Sea Oil Commerce
Supply
The world’s largest gathering level for darkish fleet tankers is forty miles east of the Malaysian peninsula. Right here, these tankers, which function with out insurance coverage, switch hundreds of thousands of barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil to China.
The charts above are a results of Bloomberg analyzing 5 years of satellite tv for pc imagery of this area to disclose the fast progress of this shadowy oil commerce.
What I like: I like how these charts clearly present the rise in side-by-side ships within the area from 2020 to 2024, particularly with the precise percentages written beneath every chart.
Slightly than plot this info on a line or bar chart, Bloomberg used a scatter plot to assist viewers visualize the areas the place these ships appeared every year. This manner, you may see that between 2020 and 2024, the ships grew by over 100% and have become extra concentrated.
20. Tracing Microplastics
Supply
About 170 trillion microplastics are floating on the planet’s oceans, posing critical threats to marine life, aquatic ecosystems, and our meals chain.
To provide readers an concept of how harmful these microplastics are, The Strait Occasions makes use of an interactive storytelling expertise to discover the Indian Ocean Rubbish Patch, the place microplastic concentrations can attain over a million particles per sq km.
What I like: I like how methodically this “scrollytelling” expertise breaks down the results of microplastics in oceans and why individuals ought to care extra about it. It takes you on a journey from South Asia to East Africa, illustrating how textile microfibers from washing machines enter these rubbish patches and the implications of this environmental hazard.
21. PIN Code Recognition
Supply
Many individuals depend on four-digit PINS to unlock their telephones, entry their financial institution accounts, and confirm their digital identities. But, many individuals subconsciously select extremely predictable codes that scammers can guess.
ABC Information analyzed hundreds of thousands of PINs uncovered in knowledge breaches and created this interactive heatmap chart to indicate how frequent and weak sure PIN mixtures are. The brighter the sq. (vivid inexperienced), the extra weak that quantity is.
For instance, the mix 1234 makes up practically 1 in 10 of the hundreds of thousands of PINs ABC Information analyzed.
What I like: I like how this heatmap isn’t only a chart; it’s a mindreader of types. Past exposing weak PIN mixtures, it goes into why individuals are possible to decide on these numbers. Whenever you’re conscious of how excessive your likelihood is of being hacked if you use these numbers, you’re extra more likely to keep away from them.
The nice examples of knowledge visualization above are nice to reference whilst you develop your strategy. Nevertheless, it‘s additionally necessary to think about the much less efficient methods to go about knowledge visualization so what to keep away from — so, let’s cowl some dangerous examples subsequent.
Unhealthy Knowledge Visualization Examples
There are various methods wherein knowledge visualization can go incorrect.
As an example, have a look at this knowledge visualization instance of MLS salaries in 2013. The sheer quantity of knowledge on this chart makes it troublesome to learn.
Supply
Moreover, the size of the variables requires viewers members to zoom in considerably to learn the information. A few of the bins which might be getting used to depict knowledge seem like vertical whereas most are horizontal — this additionally makes the knowledge complicated to learn.
Whenever you embody a number of utterly totally different variables inside a single visible, it additionally turns into sophisticated for viewers members to know — the next chart is an instance of this.
Supply
One thing else you‘ll wish to do is ensure you’re not making your visible extra sophisticated than it must be. For instance, this chart has quite a few variables which might be depicted by 3D bars. This graph does not should be 3D — in truth, it merely makes the knowledge extra obscure and examine.
Supply
Lastly, let’s evaluation some knowledge visualization instruments to assist make this course of easier.
Knowledge Visualization Instruments
There are a selection of knowledge visualization sources accessible immediately however the next record is right here to assist get you began. Do not be afraid to check out a couple of choices to find out which possibility fits your wants (and knowledge) greatest.
1. HubSpot
HubSpot’s Dashboard and Reporting Software program is designed to carry all of your crucial enterprise knowledge into one centralized platform. It permits you to create customized dashboards and reviews that replicate your advertising, gross sales, and repair efficiency.
With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you may simply construct visualizations that spotlight key metrics, observe marketing campaign progress, and monitor buyer interactions. The instrument additionally integrates seamlessly with different knowledge sources to make sure that all of your necessary info is definitely accessible in a single place.
2. Tableau Desktop
Tableau Desktop is a strong knowledge visualization instrument that helps you join to numerous knowledge sources and create interactive dashboards with ease. There are easy-to-make maps, indicators, and plenty of extra visuals, in addition to easy analytics that help you derive actionable info from calculations, reference traces, and forecasts on account of your visuals.
With built-in analytics options and help for a variety of knowledge connectors, Tableau Desktop simplifies the method of exploring and sharing your knowledge.
3. Databox
Databox is designed to carry all of your knowledge sources collectively into one centralized dashboard. There are over 100 integrations that may aid you rapidly and simply create visuals with pre-built dashboards and reviews. It’s also possible to create customized metrics and monitor your KPIs in real-time.
Databox then permits you to hook up with Google Sheets or an SQL database, or you may push it through API to view and share your knowledge.
4. Google Charts
Google Charts is a free instrument from Google that permits you to create all kinds of interactive charts to your web site or internet app. It makes use of HTML5 and SVG know-how to render high-quality visuals that work throughout totally different gadgets and browsers. The instrument presents a easy API that makes it straightforward to combine customized charts into your tasks.
With intensive documentation and plenty of chart sorts accessible—from line charts and bar charts to extra complicated maps and gauges—Google Charts supplies versatile customization choices to satisfy your particular knowledge visualization wants.
Develop Higher With Knowledge Visualization
Engaged on this piece has made me notice that knowledge visualization isn’t nearly making knowledge look interesting—it’s a strong instrument that helps me (and also you, hopefully) rapidly establish, focus on, and act on insights.
By experimenting with numerous visualization instruments and drawing inspiration from each profitable examples and customary pitfalls, you may rework complicated knowledge into clear, actionable info to your viewers.
Editor’s Observe: This submit was initially printed in March 2015 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.