Chart - Wikipedia
Jump to content
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Graphical representation of data
For other uses, see
Chart (disambiguation)
Graph (disambiguation)
, and
Diagram
This article
needs additional citations for
verification
Please help
improve this article
by
adding citations to reliable sources
. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources:
"Chart"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
October 2011
Learn how and when to remove this message
pie chart
showing the composition of the
38th
Parliament of Canada
chart
(sometimes known as a
graph
) is a
graphical representation
for
data and information visualization
, in which "the
data
is represented by
symbols
, such as bars in a
bar chart
, lines in a
line chart
, or slices in a
pie chart
".
A chart can represent
tabular
numeric
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
or
graph
, that organizes and represents a set of numerical or qualitative data.
Maps
that are adorned with extra information (
map surround
) 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
) 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
percentages
in different groups (such as "satisfied, not satisfied, unsure") are often displayed in a
pie chart
, 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
edit
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
edit
This article's
factual accuracy is
disputed
Relevant discussion may be found on the
talk page
. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are
reliably sourced
October 2019
Learn how and when to remove this message
Common charts
edit
Four of the most common charts are:
Histogram
Bar chart
Pie chart
Line chart
This gallery shows:
histogram
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.
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.
pie chart
shows percentage values as a slice of a pie; first introduced by William Playfair.
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:
Timeline
chart
Organizational chart
Tree chart
Flow chart
Area chart
Cartogram
Pedigree chart
Radial tree
Less-common charts
edit
Examples of less common charts are:
Bubble chart
Polar area diagram
Waterfall chart
Radar chart
Tree map
Streamgraph
GapChart
This gallery shows:
bubble chart
is a two-dimensional scatterplot where a third variable is represented by the size of the points.
polar area diagram
, sometimes called a Coxcomb chart, is an enhanced form of pie chart developed by
Florence Nightingale
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.
waterfall chart
also known as a "Walk" chart, is a special type of floating-column chart.
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.
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
edit
Some types of charts have specific uses in a certain field
Open-high-low-close chart
Candlestick chart
Kagi chart
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.
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
edit
Some of the better-known named charts are:
Gantt chart
Nolan chart
PERT
chart
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
to show the interaction of two data points in a grid.
Gantt chart
helps in scheduling complex projects.
The
Nolan chart
and the
Pournelle chart
classify political philosophies according to two axes of variation.
PERT chart
is often used in
project management
The
Smith chart
serves in
radio electronics
Other charts
edit
There are dozens of other types of charts. Here are some of them:
Control chart
Greninger chart
Heatmap
Natal chart
Nomogram
Pareto chart
Run chart
Strip chart
Structure chart
Vowel chart
One more example:
Bernal chart
Common plots
edit
Main article:
Plot (graphics)
Box plot
Dot plot (statistics)
Probability plot
Scatterplot
Biplot
Chart software
edit
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
See also
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Chart
Diagram
Table (information)
Drakon-chart
Exploratory data analysis
Graphic organizer
Information graphics
Mathematical diagram
Official statistics
Plot (graphics)
Edward Tufte
Misleading graph
List of statistical charts and diagrams
References
edit
Cary Jensen, Loy Anderson (1992).
Harvard graphics 3: the complete reference
. Osborne McGraw-Hill
ISBN
0-07-881749-8
p.413
Howard Wainer
(1997)
Visual revelations: graphical tales of fate and Deception from Napoleon Bonaparte to Ross Perot
, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
ISBN
0-8058-3878-3
p.87-90.
Pearson, K.
(1895).
"Contributions to the Mathematical Theory of Evolution. II. Skew Variation in Homogeneous Material"
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
186
343–
414.
Bibcode
1895RSPTA.186..343P
doi
10.1098/rsta.1895.0010
"First Ever Bar Charts Created in 14th Century"
. AnyChart. 2 June 2015
. Retrieved
9 February
2016
"History of Pie Charts"
. JPowered. Archived from
the original
on 15 January 2016
. Retrieved
9 February
2016
Michael Friendly
(2008).
"Milestones in the history of thematic cartography, statistical graphics, and data visualization"
(PDF)
. pp.
13–
14.
Further reading
edit
Wikiquote has quotations related to
Chart
Brinton, Willard Cope
Graphic methods for presenting facts
. The Engineering magazine company, 1914.
Karsten, Karl G.
Charts and graphs: An introduction to graphic methods in the control and analysis of statistics
Prentice-Hall, 1923, 1925.
Visualization
of technical information
Fields
Biological data visualization
Chemical imaging
Crime mapping
Data visualization
Educational visualization
Flow visualization
Geovisualization
Information visualization
Mathematical visualization
Medical imaging
Molecular graphics
Product visualization
Scientific visualization
Social visualization
Software visualization
Technical drawing
User interface design
Visual analytics
Visual culture
Volume visualization
Image
types
Chart
Diagram
Engineering drawing
Graph of a function
Ideogram
Map
Photograph
Pictogram
Plot
Sankey diagram
Schematic
Skeletal formula
Statistical graphics
Table
Technical drawings
Technical illustration
People
Pre-19th century
Edmond Halley
Charles-René de Fourcroy
Joseph Priestley
Gaspard Monge
19th century
Charles Dupin
Adolphe Quetelet
André-Michel Guerry
William Playfair
August Kekulé
Charles Joseph Minard
Francis Amasa Walker
John Venn
Oliver Byrne
Matthew Sankey
Charles Booth
John Snow
Florence Nightingale
Karl Wilhelm Pohlke
Toussaint Loua
Francis Galton
Early 20th century
Edward Walter Maunder
Otto Neurath
W. E. B. Du Bois
Henry Gantt
Arthur Lyon Bowley
Howard G. Funkhouser
John B. Peddle
Ejnar Hertzsprung
Henry Norris Russell
Max O. Lorenz
Fritz Kahn
Harry Beck
Erwin Raisz
Mid 20th century
Jacques Bertin
Rudolf Modley
Arthur H. Robinson
John Tukey
Mary Eleanor Spear
Edgar Anderson
Howard T. Fisher
Late 20th century
Borden Dent
Nigel Holmes
William S. Cleveland
George G. Robertson
Bruce H. McCormick
Catherine Plaisant
Stuart Card
Pat Hanrahan
Edward Tufte
Ben Shneiderman
Michael Friendly
Howard Wainer
Clifford A. Pickover
Lawrence J. Rosenblum
Thomas A. DeFanti
George Furnas
Sheelagh Carpendale
Cynthia Brewer
Jock D. Mackinlay
Alan MacEachren
David Goodsell
Kwan-Liu Ma
Michael Maltz
Leland Wilkinson
Alfred Inselberg
Early 21st century
Ben Fry
Jeffrey Heer
Jessica Hullman
Daniel A. Keim
Gordon Kindlmann
Aaron Koblin
Christopher R. Johnson
Manuel Lima
David McCandless
Mauro Martino
John Maeda
Miriah Meyer
Tamara Munzner
Ade Olufeko
Hanspeter Pfister
Hans Rosling
Claudio Silva
Moritz Stefaner
Fernanda Viégas
Martin Wattenberg
Bang Wong
Hadley Wickham
Related
topics
Cartography
Chartjunk
Color coding
Computer graphics
in computer science
CPK coloring
Graph drawing
Graphic design
Graphic organizer
Imaging
Information art
Information graphics
Information science
Misleading graph
Neuroimaging
Patent drawing
Scientific modelling
Spatial analysis
Visual perception
Virtual unfolding
Volume rendering
Authority control databases
: National
Japan
Retrieved from "
Categories
Infographics
Charts
Modeling languages
Hidden categories:
Articles with short description
Short description matches Wikidata
Articles needing additional references from October 2011
All articles needing additional references
Accuracy disputes from October 2019
All accuracy disputes
Commons link from Wikidata
Use dmy dates from July 2024
Chart
Add topic