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

data visualization Data and information visualization (data viz/vis or info viz/vis) is the practice of designing and creating Graphics, graphic or visual Representation (arts), representations of a large amount of complex quantitative and qualitative data and i ...

, in which "the

data Data ( , ) are a collection of discrete or continuous values that convey information, describing the quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted for ...

is represented by

symbol A symbol is a mark, Sign (semiotics), sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, physical object, object, or wikt:relationship, relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by cr ...

s, such as bars in a

bar chart A bar chart or bar graph is a chart or graph that presents categorical variable, categorical data with rectangular bars with heights or lengths proportional to the values that they represent. The bars can be plotted vertically or horizontally. A ...

, lines in a

line chart A line chart or line graph, also known as curve chart, is a type of chart that displays information as a series of data points called 'markers' connected by straight wikt:line, line segments. It is a basic type of chart common in many fields. ...

, 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 area) ...

". A chart can represent tabular numeric data, functions or some kinds of

quality Quality may refer to: Concepts *Quality (business), the ''non-inferiority'' or ''superiority'' of something *Quality (philosophy), an attribute or a property *Quality (physics), in response theory *Energy quality, used in various science discipli ...

structure and provides different info. The term "chart" as a graphical representation of

has multiple meanings: * A data chart is a type of

diagram A diagram is a symbolic Depiction, representation of information using Visualization (graphics), visualization techniques. Diagrams have been used since prehistoric times on Cave painting, walls of caves, but became more prevalent during the Age o ...

graph Graph may refer to: Mathematics *Graph (discrete mathematics), a structure made of vertices and edges **Graph theory, the study of such graphs and their properties *Graph (topology), a topological space resembling a graph in the sense of discret ...

, that organizes and represents a set of numerical or qualitative data. *

Map A map is a symbolic depiction of interrelationships, commonly spatial, between things within a space. A map may be annotated with text and graphics. Like any graphic, a map may be fixed to paper or other durable media, or may be displayed on ...

s 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 indicator ...

) for a specific purpose are often known as charts, such as a

nautical chart A nautical chart or hydrographic chart is a graphic representation of a sea region or water body and adjacent coasts or river bank, banks. Depending on the scale (map), scale of the chart, it may show depths of water (bathymetry) and heights of ...

aeronautical chart An aeronautical chart is a map designed to assist in the navigation of aircraft, much as nautical charts do for watercraft, or a roadmap does for drivers. Using these charts and other tools, pilots are able to determine their position, safe alt ...

, typically spread over several

map sheet A map series is a group of topographic or thematic charts or maps usually having the same scale and cartographic specifications, and with each sheet appropriately identified by its publisher as belonging to the same series. Map series occur whe ...

s. * Other domain-specific constructs are sometimes called charts, such as the

chord chart A chord chart (or chart) is a form of musical notation that describes the basic harmonic and rhythmic information for a song or tune. It is the most common form of notation used by professional session musicians playing jazz or popular music. It ...

in music notation or a

record chart A record chart, in the music industry, also called a music chart, is a ranking of Sound recording and reproduction, recorded music according to certain criteria during a given period. Many different criteria are used in worldwide charts, ofte ...

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. It is available either as loose leaf paper or bound in notebooks or graph books. It is commonly found in mathe ...

) or by computer using a

charting application A charting application is a computer program that is used to create a graphical representation (a chart) based on some non-graphical data that is entered by a user, most often through a spreadsheet application, but also through a dedicated specific ...

. 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 () is a number or ratio expressed as a fraction (mathematics), fraction of 100. It is often Denotation, denoted using the ''percent sign'' (%), although the abbreviations ''pct.'', ''pct'', and sometimes ''pc'' are ...

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

. 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

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 Axes, plural of ''axe'' and of ''axis'', may refer to * ''Axes'' (album), a 2005 rock album by the British band Electrelane * a possibly still empty plot (graphics) See also * Axis (disambiguation) An axis (: axes) may refer to: Mathematics ...

. 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 a visual representation of the frequency distribution, distribution of quantitative data. To construct a histogram, the first step is to Data binning, "bin" (or "bucket") the range of values— divide the entire range of values in ...

File:Försäljningsstatistik för blanddrycker.png,

Bar chart A bar chart or bar graph is a chart or graph that presents categorical variable, categorical data with rectangular bars with heights or lengths proportional to the values that they represent. The bars can be plotted vertically or horizontally. A ...

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 area) ...

File:US Trade Balance from 1960.svg,

Line chart A line chart or line graph, also known as curve chart, is a type of chart that displays information as a series of data points called 'markers' connected by straight wikt:line, line segments. It is a basic type of chart common in many fields. ...

This gallery shows: * A

histogram A histogram is a visual representation of the frequency distribution, distribution of quantitative data. To construct a histogram, the first step is to Data binning, "bin" (or "bucket") the range of values— divide the entire range of values in ...

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

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

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 A timeline is a list of events displayed in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale representing t ...

chart File:Organigram of the United States Department of the Navy.gif,

Organizational chart An organizational chart, also called organigram, organogram, or organizational breakdown structure (OBS), is a diagram that shows the structure of an organization and the relationships and relative ranks of its parts and positions/jobs. The ter ...

File:ABB.svg, Tree chart File:Flussdiagramm (Programmablaufplan).png,

Flow chart A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents a workflow or process. A flowchart can also be defined as a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm, a step-by-step approach to solving a task. The flowchart shows the steps as boxes of va ...

File:MLB slugging history.svg,

Area chart An area chart or area graph displays graphically quantitative data. It is based on the line chart. The area between axis and line are commonly emphasized with colors, textures and hatchings. Commonly one compares two or more quantities with an a ...

File:Cartlinearlarge.png,

Cartogram A cartogram (also called a value-area map or an anamorphic map, the latter common among German-speakers) is a thematic map of a set of features (countries, provinces, etc.), in which their geographic size is altered to be Proportionality (math ...

File:Autosomal Dominant Pedigree Chart.svg,

Pedigree chart A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence of certain traits through different generations of a family, most commonly for humans, show dogs, and race horses. Definition The word pedigree is a corruption of the Anglo-Norman French ''p ...

File:Sunburst Chart.jpg,

Radial tree Radial is a geometric term of location which may refer to: Mathematics and Direction * Vector (geometric), a line * Radius, adjective form of * Radial distance (geometry), a directional coordinate in a polar coordinate system * Radial set * ...

Less-common charts

Examples of less common charts are: File:3Variable_BubbleChart.svg,

Bubble chart A bubble chart is a type of chart that displays three dimensions of data. Each entity with its triplet (''v''1, ''v''2, ''v''3) of associated data is plotted as a disk that expresses two of the ''vi'' values through the disk's ''xy'' location and ...

File:Nightingale-mortality.jpg, Polar area diagram File:Waterfall-chart.jpg,

Waterfall chart A waterfall chart is a form of data visualization that helps in understanding the cumulative effect of sequentially introduced positive or negative values. These intermediate values can either be time based or category based. The waterfall char ...

File:Fuentes de consumo de energía diaria 2001-2003 (FAO).svg,

Radar chart A radar chart is a graphical method of displaying multivariate data in the form of a two-dimensional chart of three or more quantitative variables represented on axes starting from the same point. The relative position and angle of the axes i ...

File:Heatmap incito.png, Tree map File:LastGraph example.svg,

Streamgraph A streamgraph, or stream graph, is a type of stacked area chart, area graph which is displaced around a Cartesian coordinate system, central axis, resulting in a flowing, organic shape. Unlike a traditional stacked area graph in which the layers a ...

File:GapChart-Top14-2013-2014.png, GapChart This gallery shows: * A

bubble chart A bubble chart is a type of chart that displays three dimensions of data. Each entity with its triplet (''v''1, ''v''2, ''v''3) of associated data is plotted as a disk that expresses two of the ''vi'' values through the disk's ''xy'' location and ...

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 Florence Nightingale (; 12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was an English Reform movement, social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during th ...

. * A

radar chart A radar chart is a graphical method of displaying multivariate data in the form of a two-dimensional chart of three or more quantitative variables represented on axes starting from the same point. The relative position and angle of the axes i ...

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 A waterfall chart is a form of data visualization that helps in understanding the cumulative effect of sequentially introduced positive or negative values. These intermediate values can either be time based or category based. The waterfall char ...

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 streamgraph, or stream graph, is a type of stacked area chart, area graph which is displaced around a Cartesian coordinate system, central axis, resulting in a flowing, organic shape. Unlike a traditional stacked area graph in which the layers a ...

, 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 An open-high-low-close chart (OHLC) is a type of chart typically used in technical analysis to illustrate movements in the price of a financial instrument over time. Each vertical line on the chart shows the price range (the highest and lowest p ...

File:Candlestick-chart.png, Candlestick chart File:KagiSample2Chart echarts.gif,

Kagi chart The Kagi chart () is a chart used for tracking price movements and to make decisions on purchasing stock. It differs from traditional stock charts such as the Candlestick chart by being mostly independent of time. This feature aids in producing a ...

File:Sparkline dowjones.svg,

Sparkline A sparkline is a very small line chart, typically drawn without axes or coordinates. It presents the general shape of a variation (typically over time) in some measurement, such as temperature or stock market price, in a simple and highly condens ...

This gallery shows: * Stock market prices are often depicted with an

open-high-low-close chart An open-high-low-close chart (OHLC) is a type of chart typically used in technical analysis to illustrate movements in the price of a financial instrument over time. Each vertical line on the chart shows the price range (the highest and lowest p ...

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

is a time-independent stock tracking chart that attempts to minimise noise. * Alternatively, where less detail is required, and chart size is paramount, a

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 A Gantt chart is a bar chart that illustrates a schedule (project management), project schedule. It was designed and popularized by Henry Gantt around the years 1910–1915. Modern Gantt charts also show the Dependency (project management), depe ...

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,

File:Nolan-chart.svg,

Nolan chart The Nolan Chart is a political spectrum diagram created by United States, American Libertarian Party (United States), libertarian activist David Nolan (libertarian), David Nolan in 1969, charting political views along two axes, representing econo ...

File:5n PERT graph with critical path.svg,

PERT Pert or PERT may refer to: Ships * - see List of United States Navy ships: P * , a World War II corvette, originally HMS ''Nepeta'' * Pert (sidewheeler), ''Pert'' (sidewheeler), a 19th-century steamboat that operated in British Columbia, Canada ...

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 is a chart originating from the study of

genetics Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinians, Augustinian ...

to show the interaction of two data points in a grid. * A

helps in scheduling complex projects. * The

and the

Pournelle chart The Pournelle chart, developed by Jerry Pournelle in his 1963 political science Ph.D. dissertation, is a two-dimensional coordinate system which can be used to distinguish political ideologies. It is similar to the political compass and the ...

classify political philosophies according to two axes of variation. * A

PERT chart The program evaluation and review technique (PERT) is a statistical tool used in project management, which was designed to analyze and represent the task (project management), tasks involved in completing a given project. PERT was originally ...

is often used in

project management Project management is the process of supervising the work of a Project team, team to achieve all project goals within the given constraints. This information is usually described in project initiation documentation, project documentation, crea ...

. * The Smith chart serves in

radio electronics Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connected to ...

Other charts

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

Control chart Control charts are graphical plots used in production control to determine whether quality and manufacturing processes are being controlled under stable conditions. (ISO 7870-1) The hourly status is arranged on the graph, and the occurrence of ...

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 d ...

File:Heatmap.png,

Heatmap A heat map (or heatmap) is a 2-dimensional data visualization technique that represents the magnitude of individual values within a dataset as a color. The variation in color may be by hue or brightness, intensity. In some applications such as cr ...

File:Horoscope-Christ.jpg,

Natal chart A horoscope (or other commonly used names for the horoscope in English include natal chart, astrological chart, astro-chart, celestial map, sky-map, star-chart, cosmogram, vitasphere, radical chart, radix, chart wheel or simply chart) is an ast ...

File:TS-Wasserdampf. neu.png,

Nomogram A nomogram (), also called a nomograph, alignment chart, or abac, is a graphical Analog computer, calculating device, a two-dimensional diagram designed to allow the approximate graphical computation of a Function (mathematics), mathematical fu ...

File:800px-Pareto fr.png,

Pareto chart A Pareto chart is a type of chart that contains both bars and a line graph, where individual values are represented in descending order by bars, and the cumulative total is represented by the line. The chart is named for the Pareto principle, ...

File:SimpleRunChart.jpg,

Run chart A run chart, also known as a run-sequence plot is a graph that displays observed data in a time sequence. Often, the data displayed represent some aspect of the output or performance of a manufacturing or other business process. It is therefore ...

File:Example Strip Chart.png, Strip chart File:Configuration System Structure Chart.jpg,

Structure chart A structure chart (SC) in software engineering and organizational theory is a chart which shows the smallest of a system to its lowest manageable levels.IRS (2008) "Configuration Management" In: ''IRS Resources Part 2. Information Technol Chapter ...

File:Amharic vowel chart.svg,

Vowel chart A vowel diagram or vowel chart is a schematic arrangement of the vowels. Depending on the particular language being discussed, it can take the form of a triangle or a quadrilateral. Vertical position on the diagram denotes the vowel height, vow ...

One more example: Bernal chart

Common plots

File:Michelsonmorley-boxplot.svg,

Box plot In descriptive statistics, a box plot or boxplot is a method for demonstrating graphically the locality, spread and skewness groups of numerical data through their quartiles. In addition to the box on a box plot, there can be lines (which are ca ...

File:Dotplot of random values 2.png, Dot plot (statistics) File:Probability Plot.gif, Probability plot File:oldfaithful3.png,

Scatterplot A scatter plot, also called a scatterplot, scatter graph, scatter chart, scattergram, or scatter diagram, is a type of plot or mathematical diagram using Cartesian coordinates to display values for typically two variables for a set of dat ...

File:Spectramap Biplot Iris Flower Data Set FULL.jpg,

Biplot Biplots are a type of exploratory graph used in statistics, a generalization of the simple two-variable scatterplot. A biplot overlays a ''score plot'' with a ''loading plot''. A biplot allows information on both samples and variables of a d ...

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. ...