Conceptual building blocks of visualization – the three types of visual encoding techniques

arranging linking varying

into meaningful configurations by connectors or boundaries of visual properties

horizontal picturing ⬤ proportional connecting colour

space-filling coding
vertical

third dimension mapping ⬤ positioning grouping by gradient

(of spatial into boundary coding
angular locations) category slots

radial ⬤ positioning ⬤ positioning shape

along a into coding
spiral coordinate axis ordered slots
vertical array
⬤ extending ⬤ spatial sizing
of horizontal axes
along a ordering
horizontal array coordinate axis
of vertical axes
⬤ diverging nesting unit-based
angular array along a tallying
of radial axes coordinate axis
The orientations shown
above can be used with ⬤ ranging coupling by
arranging techniques along a adjacency
marked with ⬤ coordinate axis

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Lang V I S
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2024-06-10
 types of questions types of questions
visual encoding technique that can be answered example usage visual encoding technique that can be answered example usage

picturing what does it look like? nesting does a given relationship hold?
which unique position in an order?
picture pictogram cutaway exploded nested circle Marimekko treemap
drawing view packing chart

mapping where? coupling by does a given relationship hold?

(of spatial adjacency which unique position in an order?
locations) connection bubble gradient cartogram which group or category? icicle chart sunburst chart
map map scale map

⬤ positioning when?
along a how much or how many?
coordinate which proportion? line chart scatter plot clock face parallel connecting does a given relationship hold?
axis coordinates which unique position in an order?
⬤ extending how much or how many? which group or category? flow chart mind map arc diagram bump chart
along a which proportion?
coordinate bar chart area chart dot plot Isotype chart grouping by which group or category?
axis boundary
⬤ ranging which time range? Venn diagram proportional
along a which range of quantities? (or prop.) Venn diagram
coordinate span chart dumbbell range
axis chart area chart

⬤ diverging how is this split into two parts? colour coding which group or category?
along a
coordinate population lines on a
axis pyramid subway map
⬤ proportional which proportion? gradient which ordered category?
space-filling coding which unique position in an order?
pie chart stacked 100% stacked treemap heat map gradient
bar chart area chart scale map
⬤ positioning which group or category? shape coding which group or category?
into
category slots table small multiple flow chart
of scatter plots

⬤ positioning which ordered category? sizing how much or how many?

into which proportion?
ordered slots pyramid bump chart tree diagram heat map which ordered category? proportional bar chart pie chart streamgraph
diagram which unique position in an order? area chart
⬤ spatial which unique position in an order? unit-based how much or how many?
ordering tallying which proportion?
stem and comic strip which ordered category? dot plot Isotype chart unit chart
leaf plot which unique position in an order?

Arranging techniques marked with ⬤ can be specified with an orientation. Lang V I S

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© 2024 The Language of Visualization framework (including the coloured icons) was created by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt and is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 © 2024 The Language of Visualization framework (including the coloured icons) was created by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt and is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The icons for types of visualization (black and white, on the right) are designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital for the Graphopedia project and are used here with permission. The icons for types of visualization (black and white, on the right) are designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital for the Graphopedia project and are used here with permission.
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positioning along angular clock face
a coordinate axis

█ A clock face is composed of a symbol (the hand) that is

└─■ positioned along an angular coordinate axis (showing: when?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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positioning along angular clock face
a coordinate axis

█ A clock face is composed of a symbol (the hand) that is

└─■ positioned along an angular coordinate axis (showing: when?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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proportional angular pie chart
space-filling

█ A pie chart is composed of segments that are arranged using

└─■ angular proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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proportional angular pie chart
space-filling

█ A pie chart is composed of segments that are arranged using

└─■ angular proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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positioning along positioning along scatter plot
a coordinate axis a coordinate axis

█ A scatter plot is composed of symbols that are

├─■ positioned along a horizontal coordinate axis
│ (showing: how much or how many?) and
└─■ positioned along a vertical coordinate axis
(showing: how much or how many?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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positioning along positioning along scatter plot
a coordinate axis a coordinate axis

█ A scatter plot is composed of symbols that are

├─■ positioned along a horizontal coordinate axis
│ (showing: how much or how many?) and
└─■ positioned along a vertical coordinate axis
(showing: how much or how many?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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positioning into positioning into table
category slots category slots

█ A table is composed of textual components that are arranged using

├─■ horizontal positioning into category slots
│ (showing: which group or category?) and
└─■ vertical positioning into category slots
(showing: which group or category?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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positioning into positioning into table
category slots category slots

█ A table is composed of textual components that are arranged using

├─■ horizontal positioning into category slots
│ (showing: which group or category?) and
└─■ vertical positioning into category slots
(showing: which group or category?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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picturing spatial ordering comic strip

█ A comic strip is composed of pictures that are arranged in a

├─■ horizontal spatial order (showing: which unique position in an order?),
│ and that are
└─█ composed of pictorial components that are arranged using
└─■ picturing (showing: what does it look like?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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picturing spatial ordering comic strip

█ A comic strip is composed of pictures that are arranged in a

├─■ horizontal spatial order (showing: which unique position in an order?),
│ and that are
└─█ composed of pictorial components that are arranged using
└─■ picturing (showing: what does it look like?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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connecting proportional proportional
space-filling Venn diagram

█ A proportional Venn diagram is composed of segments that are

├─■ grouped by boundary (showing: which group or category?)
│ and that are arranged using
└─■ proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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connecting proportional proportional
space-filling Venn diagram

█ A proportional Venn diagram is composed of segments that are

├─■ grouped by boundary (showing: which group or category?)
│ and that are arranged using
└─■ proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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connecting positioning into tree diagram
ordered slots

█ A tree diagram is composed of symbols that are

├─■ connected (showing: does a given relationship hold?),
│ and that are arranged using
└─■ vertical positioning into ordered slots
(showing: which ordered category?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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connecting positioning into tree diagram
ordered slots

█ A tree diagram is composed of symbols that are

├─■ connected (showing: does a given relationship hold?),
│ and that are arranged using
└─■ vertical positioning into ordered slots
(showing: which ordered category?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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spatial ordering connecting arc diagram

█ An arc diagram is composed of symbols that are arranged in a

├─■ horizontal spatial order
│ (showing: which unique position in an order?), and that are
└─■ connected (showing: does a given relationship hold?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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spatial ordering connecting arc diagram

█ An arc diagram is composed of symbols that are arranged in a

├─■ horizontal spatial order
│ (showing: which unique position in an order?), and that are
└─■ connected (showing: does a given relationship hold?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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proportional nesting treemap
space-filling

█ A treemap is composed of segments that are arranged using

├─■ proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?),
│ and that are
└─■ nested (showing: does a given relationship hold?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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proportional nesting treemap
space-filling

█ A treemap is composed of segments that are arranged using

├─■ proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?),
│ and that are
└─■ nested (showing: does a given relationship hold?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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proportional positioning along streamgraph
space-filling a coordinate axis

█ A streamgraph is composed of bands that are arranged using

├─■ vertical proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?)
│ and that are
└─■ positioned along a horizontal coordinate axis (showing: when?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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proportional positioning along streamgraph
space-filling a coordinate axis

█ A streamgraph is composed of bands that are arranged using

├─■ vertical proportional space-filling (showing: which proportion?)
│ and that are
└─■ positioned along a horizontal coordinate axis (showing: when?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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unit-based extending along unit chart / dot plot
tallying a coordinate axis

█ A unit chart or dot plot is composed of symbols that are

├─■ repeated using unit-based tallying
│ (showing: how much or how many?), and that are
└─■ extending along a coordinate axis
(also showing: how much or how many?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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unit-based extending along unit chart / dot plot
tallying a coordinate axis

█ A unit chart or dot plot is composed of symbols that are

├─■ repeated using unit-based tallying
│ (showing: how much or how many?), and that are
└─■ extending along a coordinate axis
(also showing: how much or how many?).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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mapping sizing proportional
symbol map

█ A proportional symbol map is composed of symbols that are arranged using

├─■ mapping (showing: where?), and that are
└─■ sized (showing: how much or how many?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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mapping sizing area cartogram

█ An area cartogram is composed of surface locators that are arranged using

├─■ mapping (showing: where?), and that are
└─■ sized (showing: how much or how many?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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mapping gradient coding gradient scale map

█ A gradient scale map is composed of surface locators that are arranged using
├─■ mapping (showing: where?), and that are
└─■ gradient-coded (showing: which ordered category?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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mapping gradient coding gradient scale map

█ A gradient scale map is composed of surface locators that are arranged using
├─■ mapping (showing: where?), and that are
└─■ gradient-coded (showing: which ordered category?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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mapping connecting connection map

█ A connection map is composed of symbols that are arranged using

├─■ mapping, and that are
└─■ connected
└─■ (together showing: which pair of spatial locations?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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mapping connecting connection map

█ A connection map is composed of symbols that are arranged using

├─■ mapping, and that are
└─■ connected
└─■ (together showing: which pair of spatial locations?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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mapping picturing pictorial map

█ A pictorial map is composed of pictures that are arranged using

├─■ mapping (showing: where?), and that are themselves
└─█ composed of pictorial components that are arranged using
└─■ picturing (showing: what does it look like?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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mapping picturing pictorial map

█ A pictorial map is composed of pictures that are arranged using

├─■ mapping (showing: where?), and that are themselves
└─█ composed of pictorial components that are arranged using
└─■ picturing (showing: what does it look like?).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
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diverging along positioning along population
a coordinate axis a coordinate axis pyramid

█ A population pyramid is composed of bars that are

├─■ diverging along a horizontal coordinate axis
│ (showing: how is this split into two parts?) and
└─■ positioned along a vertical coordinate axis
(showing: how much or how many? – years of age).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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diverging along positioning along population
a coordinate axis a coordinate axis pyramid

█ A population pyramid is composed of bars that are

├─■ diverging along a horizontal coordinate axis
│ (showing: how is this split into two parts?) and
└─■ positioned along a vertical coordinate axis
(showing: how much or how many? – years of age).
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Black-and-white icon on the right designed by Anna Vital and Mark Vital.
 A visualization █
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by Clive Richards & Yuri by
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 A visualization █ is composed of visual components that may be
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█ connectors or boundaries. © 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
 types of types of visual encoding techniques that can be applied to visual components of a visualization
information questions
that visualizations arranging linking varying types of
can answer into meaningful configurations by connectors or boundaries of visual properties visual components
to which visual encoding
visual and/or what does it look like? picturing Can be mimetic or schematic (e.g. selective exaggeration). techniques can be applied:
Detail-revealing techniques can be used such as in
spatial cutaway / exploded / ghosted / inset-augmented picturing. basic components
symbols
where? mapping Can be mimetic or schematic (e.g. selective exaggeration). bars
(of spatial Can be inset-augmented.
locations)
segments
connectors
mapping connecting
directed connectors
which pair of
spatial locations?
(of spatial boundaries
locations)
with… bands
blocks
points in time when? ⬤ positioning
along a
pictorial components
coordinate textual components
axis
line locators
which time range? ⬤ ranging surface locators
along a
coordinate invisible components
axis
composite components
quantitative how much or how many? ⬤ positioning ⬤ extending sizing unit-based pictures
along a along a tallying
coordinate coordinate visualizations
axis axis

what proportion? ⬤ positioning ⬤ extending ⬤ proportional Proportional space-filling sizing unit-based

along a along a space-filling can be span-equalized tallying
coordinate coordinate and/or grid-based. orientations
axis axis that can be used with
⬤ ranging
arranging techniques
which range of quantities? marked with ⬤
along a
(or proportions) coordinate
axis horizontal

how is this split ⬤ diverging

along a
vertical
into two parts? coordinate
axis third dimension

ordinal which unique position ⬤ spatial nesting coupling by connecting gradient sizing unit-based
angular
ordering adjacency coding tallying
in an order?
radial

which ordered category? ⬤ positioning gradient sizing unit-based

spiral
into coding tallying
ordered slots
vertical array
of horizontal axes
nominal which group or category? ⬤ positioning coupling by connecting grouping by colour coding shape coding
into adjacency boundary horizontal array
category slots of vertical axes
angular array
relationships does a given relationship coupling by nesting connecting of radial axes
adjacency
hold? Nesting can only show asymmetrical
(between two entities) relationships (e.g. ‘is a child of’).

© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Lang V I S
V VV VV V
The language of visualization
© 2024 by Clive Richards & Yuri Engelhardt – licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Clive Richards: [email protected]

Yuri Engelhardt: [email protected] Structure of a Lang V I S sente
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