Choose the Right Data Visualization for Numbers

 

Only numbers - Showing Numbers in visuals

 Sometimes, just showing the data as text is the most effective

way of conveying information.

Single value chart

When you just have one number, it’s best to just report

it as-is. Plotting a single value graphically (such as with a

bar or point) usually isn’t meaningful if there aren’t other

values to compare it to.

Single value with indicator

An indicator compares the single value to a second

number. This is often to compare a metric’s value between

the current period and the previous period.

Bullet chart

Chart type comparing a single value to another number,

often a benchmark rather than another data point. The

single value is shown with a bar’s length, while comparison

points are shown as shaded regions or a perpendicular line.

Table

Compares data points (rows) across multiple different

attributes (columns). Usually sorted by an important or

prominent attribute to improve utility.