Choosing the right chart
Match the chart to the comparison you want the reader to make.
Visuioration editorial, 2 June 2026, 6 min read
Change over time
Use a line for continuous trends and columns for discrete periods you want to compare individually.
Comparing categories
Horizontal bars, sorted, are the most readable way to compare more than five categories. Keep labels on the bars rather than in a legend.
Parts of a whole
Donuts work for up to five slices with clearly different sizes. Beyond that, use a stacked bar or a sorted table.
Relationships
Scatter plots show whether two measures move together. Add a label to the outliers — they are usually why someone asked.