Using data visualization tools, different types of charts and graphs can be created to illustrate important data. Geospatial visualization: Data is depicted in map form with shapes and colors that illustrate the relationship between specific locations, such as a choropleth or heat map.ĭashboard: Data and visualizations are displayed, usually for business purposes, to help analysts understand and present data. Pie chart: A pie chart divides data into percentages featured in “slices” of a pie, all adding up to 100%. Gantt chart: A Gantt chart is a bar chart that portrays a timeline and tasks specifically used in project management. An infographic is a special type of chart that combines visuals and words to illustrate the data. Table: A table is data displayed in rows and columns, which can be easily created in a Word document or Excel spreadsheet.Ĭhart or graph: Information is presented in tabular form with data displayed along an x and y axis, usually with bars, points, or lines, to represent data in comparison. Here are some common types of data visualizations: Visualizing data can be as simple as a bar graph or scatter plot but becomes powerful when analyzing, for example, the median age of the United States Congress vis-a-vis the median age of Americans. Visualize relationships: It’s easier to spot the relationships and patterns within a data set when the information is presented in a graph or chart.Įxploration: More accessible data means more opportunities to explore, collaborate, and inform actionable decisions.

Data is no different-colors and patterns allow us to visualize the story within the data.Īccessibility: Information is shared in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner for a variety of audiences. Storytelling: People are drawn to colors and patterns in clothing, arts and culture, architecture, and more. Here are the benefits of data visualization: Benefits of data visualizationĭata visualization can be used in many contexts in nearly every field, like public policy, finance, marketing, retail, education, sports, history, and more. The purpose of data visualization is to help drive informed decision-making and to add colorful meaning to an otherwise bland database. For example, the health agency in a government might provide a map of vaccinated regions. These visualizations allow us to easily understand any patterns, trends, or outliers in a data set.ĭata visualization also presents data to the general public or specific audiences without technical knowledge in an accessible manner. What is data visualization?ĭata visualization is the representation of information and data using charts, graphs, maps, and other visual tools.

If you decide you want to learn the skills to incorporate it into your job, we'll point you toward online courses you can do from anywhere. In this article, you’ll learn all about data visualization, including its definition, benefits, examples, types, and tools.

It helps tell a story with data, by turning spreadsheets of numbers into stunning graphs and charts. Data visualization is a powerful way for people, especially data professionals, to display data so that it can be interpreted easily.

Visualized learning