Charts

Stacked Area Chart

Perfect for showing the evolution of a data series over time.

What is a stacked area chart?

The stacked area chart extends the standard area chart by displaying individual data series "stacked" on top of each other. Each colored band represents a separate category and the height of each band at any given point in time shows it's value. The total height of the stack represents the sum of all it's categories at that particular point in time.

The stacked area chart is great at showing you how each individual component contributes to the overall total (i.e. part-to-whole relationship), as well as how the stack's total evolves over time.
WARNING: While great at showing the evolution of the whole, stacked area charts require mental arithmetic to track individual groups, as they lack a flat baseline. If your goal is to show how each individual group evolves over time consider plotting small multiples instead.
Default stacked area chart
A chart designed to show how a parts-to-whole relationship evoles over time
Stacked area chart comparing the individual and combined progression of seven groups over time.

Chart properties

PropDefaultDescription
central tendencymean
mean
The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values in the set.
median
The middle most value of a sorted set of numbers.
linelinear
linear
Data points are connected by straight line segments.
curved
Data points are connected by curved line segments.
step before
Staircase-like line segments. The y-value changes before the x-value.
step after
Staircase-like line segments. The y-value changes after the x-value.
stack ordernone
none
Series is ordered according to the data's insertion order.
time
Series is ordered such that early series by value are at the bottom.
descending
Series is ordered such that the largest series by sum of values are at the bottom.
ascending
Series is ordered such that the smallest series by sum of values are at the bottom.

Area Chart

A bolder line chart designed to emphasize magnitude and cumulative totals.

Scatter Plot

An essential tool for revealing patterns, correlations, outliers, and clusters within datasets.