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Line Chart

Line Charts help to understand shifts or changes in data. They are usually used to track changes over a period of time. When grouped with other lines (other data series), individual lines can be compared to one another.

Usage

Line charts can help users to track changes in data over time, compare performance of different groups and analyze trends and patterns to make timely decisions.

Basic line chart

Line charts connect a series of data points using a line. It displays quantitative data series over continuous intervals.

Basic Line Chart

Multiple line chart

Use it to visualize trends and relationships in multiple data sets. It compares different data groups on the same scale to find out how each of them is performing compared to the others.

Multiple Line Chart

Step-line chart

Use it to visualize trends for a particular event that is not continuous in nature. This chart compares the magnitude of change in value and helps to discern the intermittent pattern of the trend.

Step Line Chart

Best practices for Line charts

  • Use appropriate time periods to ensure accurate insights.
  • Choose a baseline that suits the data; choosing a zero baseline may not always represent the data change effectively.
  • When comparing data sets, line charts are only useful if the axes follow the same scales.
  • Don't plot too many lines. Limit the number to five.

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