10 - Data Analytics and Visualizations
10 - Data Analytics and Visualizations
● Bar Chart
● Line Chart
● Scatterplot
● Sparkline
● Pie Chart
● Gauge
● Waterfall Chart
● Funnel Chart
● Heat Map
● Histogram
● Box Plot
● Maps
● Tables
● Indicators
● Area Chart
● Radar or Spider Chart
● Tree Map
1. Bar Chart
At some point or another, you've either seen, interacted with, or built a bar chart
before. Bar charts are such a popular graph visualization because of how easy you
can scan them for quick information. Bar charts organize data into rectangular bars
that make it a breeze to compare related data sets.
When do I use a bar chart visualization?
Use a bar chart for the following reasons:
● You want to compare two or more values in the same category
● You want to compare parts of a whole
● You don’t have too many groups (less than 10 works best)
● You want to understand how multiple similar data sets relate to each other
2. Line Chart
Like bar charts, line charts help to visualize data in a compact and precise format
which makes it easy to rapidly scan information in order to understand trends. Line
charts are used to show resulting data relative to a continuous variable - most
commonly time or money. The proper use of color in this visualization is necessary
because different colored lines can make it even easier for users to analyze
information.
3. Scatterplot
Scatterplots are the right data visualizations to use when there are many different
data points, and you want to highlight similarities in the data set. This is useful when
looking for outliers or for understanding the distribution of your data.
If the data forms a band extending from lower left to upper right, there most likely a
positive correlation between the two variables. If the band runs from upper left to
lower right, a negative correlation is probable. If it is hard to see a pattern, there is
probably no correlation.
4. Sparkline
Sparklines are arguably the best data visualization for showing trends because of
how compact they are. They get the job done when it comes to painting a picture for
your audience fast. Though, it is important to make sure your audience understands
how to read sparklines correctly to optimize their use.
5. Pie Chart
Pie charts are an interesting graph visualization. At a high-level, they're easy to read
and understand because the parts-of-a-whole relationship is made very obvious. But
top data visual experts agree that one of their disadvantages is that the percentage
of each section isn’t obvious without adding numerical values to each slice of the pie.
So, what’s the point? As long as you stick to best practices, pie charts can be a quick
way to scan information.
6. Gauge
Gauges typically only compare two values on a scale: they compare a current value
and a target value, which often indicates whether your progress is either good or
bad, in the green or in the red.
7. Waterfall Chart
8. Funnel Chart
A funnel chart is your data visualization of choice if you want to display a series of
steps and the completion rate for each step. This can be used to track the sales
process, a marketing funnel or the conversion rate across a series of pages or steps.
Funnel charts are most often used to represent how something moves through
different stages in a process. A funnel chart displays values as progressively
decreasing proportions amounting to 100 percent in total.
A heat map or choropleth map is a data visualization that shows the relationship
between two measures and provides rating information. The rating information is
displayed using varying colors or saturation and can exhibit ratings such as high to
low or bad to awesome, and needs improvement to working well.
It can also be a thematic map in which the area inside recognized boundaries is
shaded in proportion to the data being represented.
10. Histogram
A histogram is a data visualization that shows the distribution of data over a
continuous interval or certain time period. It's basically a combination of a vertical bar
chart and a line chart. The continuous variable shown on the X-axis is broken into
discrete intervals and the number of data you have in that discrete interval
determines the height of the bar.
Histograms give an estimate as to where values are concentrated, what the
extremes are and whether there are any gaps or unusual values throughout your
data set.
12. Maps
13. Tables
14. Indicators
Indicators are useful for an at a glance view of a metric you need to keep track of. An
indicator is simply a number showing the current value of whichever performance
metric you’re tracking. To make it more useful, add a comparison to the previous
time period to show whether your metric is tracking up or down.
Some people like to get fancy with indicators and use gauges or tickers. They
present the same type of information, just in a different visual way.
A radar chart is useful for understanding the relative differences between items in
your data. Radar charts make it easy to compare multiple items and see if there are
differences that may be worth further investigation.
17. Treemap
A treemap is a visual tool that can be used to break down the relationships between
multiple variables in your data. They can be used strictly as a presentation vehicle to
show how your products roll up into different categories, for example. A treemap can
be broken down into 2-3 different layers to show the hierarchical relationship
between items.