Return to Table of Contents How to create a line chart with Venngage Here is an example of a histogram, which is a type of bar chart that shows how numbers or frequencies are distributed across a range of numbers: If you want to look at categories of any kind, even if the data is numeric, a bar chart is a great solution. If you are working with data that is not numeric, you will probably want to use a bar chart instead.
Sometimes a line chart just won’t be the best way to visualize the data. Notice how it presents data gaps really clearly:ĬREATE THIS CHART TEMPLATE When not to use a line chart This line graph displays information about employee engagement rates in the U.S. If you choose to use a line graph in these instances, it’s very important to make sure your audience is aware of these gaps, so they don’t misinterpret the information and draw erroneous conclusions. For example, you may be missing data for some months or years. Sometimes you won’t have all the data you need to “connect the dots” so to speak.
#LINE GRAPH UPGRADE#
This simple line chart is a good example of proper color use as it helps separate the most important data (the company’s upgrade rates) from the other data points (competitors’ upgrade rates), while managing to provide a good comparison between the two data sets at the same time. You can use color to make the chart easier to read, but beware: using too many colors can render the chart confusing and make it hard for readers to follow all the data points. If you’re wondering how many lines are too many, check out the answer in the FAQ section. While two or three lines on a line chart can provide some additional information and clarity, too many lines can make the chart difficult to read. Return to Table of Contents Common line graph challenges or errors
Some line charts contain more than one line, which allows for additional comparisons between categories or groups. In this case, time is on the horizontal axis, with older dates to the left and newer dates to the right.įor example, when used in a business report or plan, a line chart could describe how sales change from quarter to quarter, how the percentage of upgrades changes month-to-month, or how employee satisfaction has varied from year to year.īy visualizing these numbers in a line chart, you can spot trends and patternsmore easily and perhaps even make forecasts. Line charts are used to show how a change in one variable or number affects changes in another. They are often used to show, for example, changes that happen over time. This could be time, temperature, measurements, cost, etc. Rather, it is always on a continuum and can have any imaginable value, including fractions or decimal points. Line charts are often used to show continuous data, which is data that cannot be counted in whole numbers, such as numbers of products sold. Return to Table of Contents What is a line chart used for?
These variables are on the X and Y axes of the graph-or the horizontal line at the bottom and the vertical line at the left, respectively.Ī line chart looks like points connected on one or more lines running from left to right on a graph.
#LINE GRAPH FOR FREE#
START CREATING FOR FREE Table of contents: You can then use Venngage’s Chart Maker to create line charts that best visualize your data, in just several simple steps. In this article, I will draw from my experience as a senior information designer to share all you need to know about line charts, from basics to best practices. Line charts are one of the most common types of data visualizations, and they are incredibly useful for a wide variety of professionals.
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