Line Chart
A line chart, also known as a line graph or curve chart, is a type of visualization that uses lines to connect individual data points.
Line charts excel at portraying changes and trends over a continuous period of time.
An example of an embedded line chart
Creating an Effective Line Chart
Below are the recommended data types to show on each axis:
- X-Axis Dates
- Y-Axis Numerical values
When to Use Other Types of Charts
While line charts are a great choice for many situations, there are a few cases where you may want to avoid using them. For example:
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When you have a lot of data points. If you have a large number of data points, a line chart can become difficult to read. In this case, you may want to consider using a different chart type, such as a bar chart or histogram.
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When you are comparing categorical data. Line charts are not ideal for comparing categorical data, such as the types of cars people own or the countries people come from. In this case, you may want to consider using a pie chart or bar chart.
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When you are trying to show the distribution of data. Line charts are not ideal for showing the distribution of data, such as the range of salaries for a particular job or the heights of students in a class. In this case, you may want to consider using a different chart type, such as a box plot or histogram.