A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphical representation for

data visualization Data and information visualization (data viz or info viz) is an interdisciplinary field that deals with the graphic representation of data and information. It is a particularly efficient way of communicating when the data or information is num ...

, in which "the data is represented by

symbol A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...

s, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a

pie chart A pie chart (or a circle chart) is a circular Statistical graphics, statistical graphic, which is divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportion. In a pie chart, the arc length of each slice (and consequently its central angle and are ...

". A chart can represent tabular

numeric A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth. Numbers can be represented in language with number words. More universally, individual numbers can ...

data, functions or some kinds of quality structure and provides different info. The term "chart" as a graphical representation of data has multiple meanings: * A data chart is a type of

diagram A diagram is a symbolic representation of information using visualization techniques. Diagrams have been used since prehistoric times on walls of caves, but became more prevalent during the Enlightenment. Sometimes, the technique uses a three- ...

or graph, that organizes and represents a set of numerical or qualitative data. * Maps that are adorned with extra information (

map surround Map layout, also called map composition or (cartographic) page layout, is the part of cartographic design that involves assembling various map elements on a page. This may include the map image itself, along with titles, legends, scale indicators ...

) for a specific purpose are often known as charts, such as a nautical chart or aeronautical chart, typically spread over several map sheets. * Other domain-specific constructs are sometimes called charts, such as the chord chart in music notation or a record chart for album popularity. 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 on

graph paper Graph paper, coordinate paper, grid paper, or squared paper is writing paper that is printed with fine lines making up a regular grid. The lines are often used as guides for plotting graphs of functions or experimental data and drawing curves. I ...

) or by computer using a charting application. Certain types of charts are more useful for presenting a given data set than others. For example, data that presents

percentage In mathematics, a percentage (from la, per centum, "by a hundred") is a number or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100. It is often denoted using the percent sign, "%", although the abbreviations "pct.", "pct" and sometimes "pc" are also us ...

s in different groups (such as "satisfied, not satisfied, unsure") are often displayed in a

, but maybe more easily understood when presented in a horizontal bar chart. 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 a line chart.

Features

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 the title. 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 on axes. 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 a scale, 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, a grid 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 textual labels 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 a legend (also known as a key). 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.

Types

Common charts

Four of the most common charts are: File:Black cherry tree histogram.svg,

Histogram A histogram is an approximate representation of the distribution of numerical data. The term was first introduced by Karl Pearson. To construct a histogram, the first step is to " bin" (or "bucket") the range of values—that is, divide the ent ...

File:Försäljningsstatistik för blanddrycker.png, Bar chart File:ActionnariatLibe2007-fr.svg,

Pie chart A pie chart (or a circle chart) is a circular Statistical graphics, statistical graphic, which is divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportion. In a pie chart, the arc length of each slice (and consequently its central angle and are ...

File:US Trade Balance from 1960.svg, Line chart This gallery shows: * A

histogram A histogram is an approximate representation of the distribution of numerical data. The term was first introduced by Karl Pearson. To construct a histogram, the first step is to " bin" (or "bucket") the range of values—that is, divide the ent ...

consists of tabular frequencies, shown as adjacent rectangles, erected over discrete intervals (bins), with an area equal to the frequency of the observations in the interval; first introduced by Karl Pearson. * A bar chart is a chart with rectangular bars with lengths proportional to the values that they represent. The bars can be plotted vertically or horizontally. The first known bar charts are usually attributed to Nicole Oresme, Joseph Priestley, and William Playfair. * A

shows percentage values as a slice of a pie; first introduced by William Playfair. * A line chart is a two-dimensional scatterplot of ordered observations where the observations are connected following their order. The first known line charts are usually credited to Francis Hauksbee, Nicolaus Samuel Cruquius, Johann Heinrich Lambert and William Playfair. Other common charts are: File:BTTFTimelines.png, Timeline chart File:Organigram of the United States Department of the Navy.gif, Organizational chart File:ABB.svg, Tree chart File:Flussdiagramm (Programmablaufplan).png, Flow chart File:MLB slugging history.svg, Area chart File:Cartlinearlarge.png, Cartogram File:Autosomal Dominant Pedigree Chart.svg, Pedigree chart File:Sunburst Chart.jpg,

Radial tree A radial tree, or radial map, is a method of displaying a tree structure (e.g., a tree data structure) in a way that expands outwards, radially. It is one of many ways to visually display a tree, with examples extending back to the early 20th cen ...

Less-common charts

Examples of less common charts are: File:3Variable_BubbleChart.svg, Bubble chart File:Nightingale-mortality.jpg, Polar area diagram File:Waterfall-chart.jpg, Waterfall chart File:Fuentes de consumo de energía diaria 2001-2003 (FAO).svg, Radar chart File:Heatmap incito.png, Tree map File:LastGraph example.svg, Streamgraph File:GapChart-Top14-2013-2014.png, GapChart This gallery shows: * A bubble chart is a two-dimensional scatterplot where a third variable is represented by the size of the points. * A polar area diagram, sometimes called a Coxcomb chart, is an enhanced form of pie chart developed by Florence Nightingale. * A radar chart or "spider chart" or "doi" is a two-dimensional chart of three or more quantitative variables represented on axes starting from the same point. * A waterfall chart also known as a "Walk" chart, is a special type of floating-column chart. * A tree map where the areas of the rectangles correspond to values. Other dimensions can be represented with color or hue. Smaller areas go to the bottom right corner. * A streamgraph, a stacked, curvilinear area graph displaced around a central axis * A GapChart, a time series chart showing evolving gaps and equalities between series. Other dimensions can be represented with color or hue.

Field-specific charts

Some types of charts have specific uses in a certain field File:Bollinger bands example, 2 stddevs.png, Open-high-low-close chart File:Candlestick-chart.png, Candlestick chart File:KagiSample2Chart echarts.gif, Kagi chart File:Sparkline dowjones.svg, Sparkline This gallery shows: * Stock market prices are often depicted with an open-high-low-close chart with a traditional bar chart of volume at the bottom. * Candlestick charts are another type of bar chart used to describe price movements of an equity over time. * A Kagi chart is a time-independent stock tracking chart that attempts to minimise noise. * Alternatively, where less detail is required, and chart size is paramount, a Sparkline may be used. Other examples: * Interest rates, temperatures, etc., at the close of the period are plotted with a line chart. * Project planners use a Gantt chart to show the timing of tasks as they occur over time.

Well-known named charts

Some of the better-known named charts are: File:Gantt przyklad 2.PNG, Gantt chart File:Nolan-chart.svg, Nolan chart File:5n PERT graph with critical path.svg, PERT chart File:Smith chart bmd.gif, Smith chart Some specific charts have become well known by effectively explaining a phenomenon or idea. * An

Allele chart The Punnett square is a square diagram that is used to predict the genotypes of a particular cross or breeding experiment. It is named after Reginald C. Punnett, who devised the approach in 1905. The diagram is used by biologists to determine ...

is a chart originating from the study of genetics to show the interaction of two data points in a grid. * A Gantt chart helps in scheduling complex projects. * The Nolan chart and the

Pournelle chart The Pournelle chart, developed by Jerry Pournelle in his 1963 political science Ph.D. dissertation, is a Double-axis politics, two-dimensional coordinate system which can be used to distinguish List of political ideologies, political ideologies ...

classify political philosophies according to two axes of variation. * A PERT chart is often used in project management. * The Smith chart serves in radio electronics.

Other charts

There are dozens of other types of charts. Here are some of them: File:ControlChart.svg, Control chart File:GreningerChart.png,

Greninger chart In crystallography, a Greninger chartIt is named after Alden Buchanan Greninger (17 September 1907, Glendale, Oregon20 April 1998). is a chart that allows angular relations between zones and planes in a crystal to be directly read from an x-ray di ...

File:Heatmap.png,

Heatmap A heat map (or heatmap) is a data visualization technique that shows magnitude of a phenomenon as color in two dimensions. The variation in color may be by hue or intensity, giving obvious visual cues to the reader about how the phenomenon is clu ...

File:Horoscope-Christ.jpg, Natal chart File:TS-Wasserdampf. neu.png, Nomogram File:800px-Pareto fr.png, Pareto chart File:SimpleRunChart.jpg, Run chart File:Example Strip Chart.png, Strip chart File:Configuration System Structure Chart.jpg, Structure chart File:Amharic vowel chart.svg, Vowel chart One more example:

Bernal chart A Bernal chart (bər′nal ′chärt) in crystallography, is a chart used for indexing X-ray diffraction photographs from single crystals. From such a chart may be read the axial and radial cylindrical coordinates of that point in reciprocal space w ...

Common plots

File:Michelsonmorley-boxplot.svg, Box plot File:Dotplot of random values 2.png,

Dot plot (statistics) A dot chart or dot plot is a statistical chart consisting of data points plotted on a fairly simple scale, typically using filled in circles. There are two common, yet very different, versions of the dot chart. The first has been used in hand-drawn ...

File:Probability Plot.gif, Probability plot File:oldfaithful3.png, Scatterplot File:Spectramap Biplot Iris Flower Data Set FULL.jpg, Biplot

Chart software

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, see

List of charting software There are many different types of software available to produce charts. A number of notable examples (with their own Wikipedia articles) are given below and organized according to the programming language or other context in which they are used. ...