Have you ever struggled to choose the right chart for your data analysis or presentation? I know I have. That’s why I was excited to come across a simple yet powerful way to group charts by purpose.
The idea is to categorize charts into four buckets: comparison, composition, stage analysis, and relationship. These four categories cover 90% of what you’ll need for everyday analysis or reporting.
I love how this approach simplifies the process of selecting a chart. No more scrolling through endless lists of chart types or wondering which one to use. Just identify the purpose of your chart and choose from the corresponding category.
For example, if you want to compare data across different groups, you’ll likely use a comparison chart like a bar chart or scatter plot. If you want to show how different parts contribute to a whole, a composition chart like a pie chart or stacked bar chart is the way to go.
I’d love to hear from you – what charts do you use most often, and do you have any favorite chart types or categories?
If you want to dive deeper, there’s a great video that explains the thinking behind these categories and provides more examples.