Data viz types

& examples
 Comparative Charts

Quick tip
Column Chart When choosing a bar vs column chart,
ask yourself two things:
1. Is the axis related to time,
or is it more categorical in nature?
2. Will the label fit horizontally?

Use clusters to directly compare

categories along the same axis, and
sublots to break out into separate charts
Time-based axis

Bar Chart Clustered Charts

Categorical axis

Tables

Radar chart
Dense, detailed data

Drill down for details or view roll up summary Comparison across many features

All visuals are created using the atoti library. Install it and try it out for yourself: pip install atoti[jupyterlab]
@atoti
 Composition Charts

Pie or Donut

Quick tip
Pie and donut charts can be
considered controversial
to use.
Use when there are a limited
Few categories, with clear disparity in sizes
number of categories, or
a large disparity is evident.

Waterfall

Quick tip
Use waterfall charts to show
how each data element
contributes to the whole,
especially when both
positive and negative values
Stacked Column, Bar, or Area
come into play.

Tree Map

Pie or Donut

Largest proportion on top or to the left, then decreasing

All visuals are created using the atoti library. Install it and try it out for yourself: pip install atoti[jupyterlab]
@atoti
 Trends-based Charts

Line Chart
Quick tip
Time based axis on a chart like
a column or area chart also
demonstrate trends

Relationship-based Charts

Quick tip Scatter Plot

Relationship based charts show
the relationship across two separate
variables.
Scatter plots help show how each
data point compares across axes,
allowing a person to see if there is
a relationship between the two axes.
Combined charts also allow for
Combined charts
direct comparison, visually
showing how the two relate.

A line and column chart shows a clear relationship between the two

All visuals are created using the atoti library. Install it and try it out for yourself: pip install atoti[jupyterlab]
@atoti
 Summary Charts

Quick tip
Bullet
When choosing between bullet and
gauge charts, consider a few things:
1. Do you want to compare across or
focus on one? Bullets align more
easily for cross-comparison
2. Does your data have a goal, max,
and min limits? Gauges are great
with clearly defined max/min limits.
Bullets work better if the value can
exceed the max

Gauge KPI

Summarizes performance; may or may not include

comparison

Other chart types

not featured here
Quick tip
The best chart to use is the
one that accurately conveys
the message the data Word Clouds, Heat Maps, Maps,
expresses to the person who
Calendar, Spiral, and others!
is viewing it.

All visuals are created using the atoti library. Install it and try it out for yourself: pip install atoti[jupyterlab]
@atoti