Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
When should I pick Bar chart?
When the story is: comparing a handful of categories at one time.
When should I avoid Bar chart?
Skip it in cases like: too many categories, 3-D extrusion, or dual-axis tricks.
Who invented or popularised it?
William Playfair, Commercial and Political Atlas, 1786
What does it encode?
length of rectangles on one baseline
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Bar chart encodes values as length of rectangles on one baseline. William Playfair, Commercial and Political Atlas, 1786.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits comparing a handful of categories at one time. Skip it when too many categories, 3-D extrusion, or dual-axis tricks.
Software
- Software 1 — Excel or Google Sheets
- Software 2 — PowerPoint
- Software 3 — Figma / Illustrator — ad and poster shapes
- Software 4 — Python matplotlib or R ggplot — assignment and research figures
- Software 5 — This atlas's server-rendered SVG — examples without a chart library
Exports
- Exports 1 — SVG
- Exports 2 — PDF
- Exports 3 — EMF/SVG into slides (no screenshots)
- Exports 4 — SVG for web, PDF for print
Accessibility
- Accessibility 1 — Never hue alone. Stack pattern, label and position.
- Accessibility 2 — 4.5:1 for text, 3:1 for large marks.
- Accessibility 3 — Short alt text on the chart; numbers also as an HTML table.
- Accessibility 4 — Motion only as emphasis. Honour prefers-reduced-motion.
Bar chart: honour length of rectangles on one baseline, and switch when too many categories, 3-D extrusion, or dual-axis tricks.