Line chart in : Encoding
Line chart decides what is being compared in under “Encoding.” The figure that must stay on the axis is 1786. Drawing it larger does not create a unit. Look first for a cut axis and a missing key. Show change through time with a continuous path — the workhorse of reports and science homework.
Line chart encodes values as position of a polyline through ordered time. William Playfair, 1786 — later refined for meteorology and markets. In reports, ads and assignments it fits trends, seasonality and a few series over time. Skip it when unordered categories, or more than about four overlapping series.
This page gathers anatomy, fit, craft, failure modes and work / ads / school recipes for Line chart. When the story is: trends, seasonality and a few series over time. Skip it in cases like: unordered categories, or more than about four overlapping series. William Playfair, 1786 — later refined for meteorology and markets
position of a polyline through ordered time Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure. Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present. Excel or Google Sheets or PowerPoint; export SVG/PDF.
Read Line chart as , “Encoding,” and 1786. A bar with no unit is not those three.1786
Figures to keep
- Year of the chart
- 1786
- Axis figure
- 1786
- Chart
- Line chart
- How to read it
- Encoding
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