How to choose the right chart

If you're scratching your head about how to pick the perfect chart, look no further. Finding that ideal chart or graph can be a fun adventure if you stick to these easy steps:

• Get to know what kind of data you're dealing with
• Figure out what you're trying to show or find out
• Choose the type of chart that fits

If you've got a good handle on your data and what you're aiming for, why not jump right into the Chart Chooser tool and have some fun? This handy tool is here to help you sift through chart options based on your data and goals. But hey, if you're up for learning a bit more or just need a quick refresher on the types of data and what your visuals could achieve, stick around.

Ready to roll? Let's dive in.

1. Know your data type

The first step is to identify the data type. It is essential to know your data type, so you choose the right mathematical techniques and chart types to extract insights from the data. There are two types of data: categorical and continuous. If you are not familiar with those data types, feel free to check the previous articles about Categorical Data Type 101 and Continuous Data Type 101.

2. Know your objective

Now you know your data type; next is to know your objectives. There are many objectives when it comes to visualizing a data set. Here are the most commonly used objectives:

• Comparison
• Composition
• Relationship
• Hierarchy
• Distribution
• Flow

Comparison

Comparison estimates the similarities (or not) between two or more elements. Line, Bar, Bubble charts, and Treemaps are often used to compare categorical data.

The line chart below compares the wind speed of two different towns from February 13 to February 15.

Composition

Composition shows the constituent parts of an element. Donut, Pie, Stacked Bar, and Stacked Column charts are often used to visualize composition.

The demo below displays the air composition using a donut chart.

Relationship

The relationship demonstrates how one variable affects other variables. Scatter and Bubble charts are often used to visualize the relationship.

The demo below displays the relationship between height and weight for 507 males and females.

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Hierarchy

Hierarchy is a system where elements are arranged or ranked. Treemap, Sunburst, and Circle chart are used to visualize hierarchy.

The organization chart below shows the managerial hierarchy at Highsoft.

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Distribution

Distribution depicts the frequency of a variable through time or space. Scatter, Histograms, and Pyramid charts are used to visualize distribution.

The histogram chart below displays the distribution of the Somali population in 2021.

?Flow

The flow is the action of moving along in a steady and continuous stream. Sankey diagram and Gantt are the main charts used to visualize the flow.

The demo below visualizes the flow of the estimated US energy consumption in 2017.

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3. Choose the chart type

The steps above will help you narrow down your chart choices; the job is still not over. You still have to decide which specific chart will glean the best insights from your data set. However, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with the Chart Chooser tool. Go ahead and explore the tool using your knowledge of data types and visualization objectives.

I hope this article will help you create effective charts using this three-step process.

Let me know your experience and questions in the comment section below.