Line Charts vs. Bar Charts: Which One to Select?

Welcome to our Weekly Knowledge Visualization weblog collection!

In relation to knowledge visualization, choosing the proper chart sort is essential. Two of probably the most generally used charts are line charts and bar charts. Every has its strengths and is greatest fitted to particular varieties of knowledge.

This weblog will discover the variations between line and bar charts and supply sensible examples utilizing the Syncfusion Angular Charts.

Line Chart

A line chart is used to show tendencies over time. It consists of a collection of knowledge factors related by a steady line, making it ideally suited for displaying patterns and tendencies. This chart sort is often used for monetary knowledge, gross sales tendencies, and time-series evaluation.

To get began with our Angular Charts element, check with our getting began information. For a deeper understanding and technical implementation particulars of the road chart, check with this documentation.

Let’s analyze the month-to-month adjustments in gold costs from January to December 2024 utilizing our Angular Line Chart. We will gather the month-to-month price of gold in USD for 2024 knowledge from this GitHub repository. The road chart requires knowledge, xName, and yName for it to render. The xName represents the months of 2024 from January to December, and yName represents the worth of gold in USD.

Consult with the next code examples.

app.element.html

<ejs-chart [primaryXAxis]='primaryXAxis' [primaryYAxis]='primaryYAxis' >
    <e-series-collection>
        <e-series [dataSource]='knowledge' sort="Line" xName="Month" yName="Value"></e-series>
    </e-series-collection>
</ejs-chart>

app.element.ts

import {Part, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
import { ILoadedEventArgs, ChartTheme, ChartAllModule } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-charts';
import {Browser } from '@syncfusion/ej2-base';

@Part ({
    selector: 'app-root',
    templateUrl: 'app.element.html',
    styleUrls: ['app.component.css'],
    encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
    standalone: true,
    imports: [ChartAllModule]
})
export class AppComponent {
    public knowledge: Object[] = [
        {Month: '2024-01-01', Price: 2057.40},
        {Month: '2024-02-01', Price: 2054.70},
        {Month: '2024-03-01', Price: 2227.10 },
        {Month: '2024-04-01', Price: 2302.90 },
        {Month: '2024-05-01', Price: 2333.90 },
        {Month:'2024-06-01', Price: 2350.90 },
        {Month:'2024-07-01', Price: 2449.30 },
        {Month: '2024-08-01', Price: 2516.00 },
        {Month: '2024-09-01', Price: 2647.90 },
        {Month: '2024-10-01', Price: 2761.60 },
        {Month: '2024-11-01', Price: 2681.00 },
        {Month: '2024-12-01', Price: 2653.30 }
    ];
     public primaryXAxis: Object = {
        valueType: 'DateTimeCategory',
        majorGridLines: {width: 0},
        labelFormat: 'MMM',
        intervalType: 'Months',
        interval: 1,
    };
    public primaryYAxis: Object = {
        title: 'Gold Value (USD / troy ounce)',
        lineStyle: {width: 0 },
        majorTickLines: {width: 0 },      
        minimal: 1500 };}

Consult with the next picture.

Notice: For extra particulars, check with the Angular Line Chart demo on Stackblitz.

When to make use of a Line Chart?

• To point out tendencies over time.
• To investigate patterns in inventory costs, climate, and gross sales.
• When visualizing steady knowledge.

Do’s and don’ts of Line Charts

Do’s

• Do use line charts to point out tendencies over time. Line charts excel at visualizing knowledge that adjustments repeatedly, akin to inventory costs, temperature adjustments, or gross sales over months.
• Do make sure the x-axis represents a constant time interval or sequential knowledge. This helps in sustaining the continuity of the information factors.
• Do use clear markers on the road. Including markers could make particular person knowledge factors extra seen, particularly when highlighting key occasions or anomalies.

Don’ts

• Don’t use line charts for categorical knowledge. Line charts aren’t ideally suited for evaluating distinct classes or non-continuous knowledge. A bar or column chart is best for categorical comparisons.
• Don’t overcrowd the chart with too many knowledge factors. Too many knowledge factors could make the chart arduous to learn and interpret, particularly on small screens.
• Don’t omit gridlines or labels. Clear labels and gridlines assist the person perceive the dimensions and models of the information, guaranteeing the chart is readable.

Bar Chart

A bar chart is beneficial for evaluating values throughout totally different classes. It represents knowledge utilizing rectangular bars, the place the size of every bar is proportional to the worth it represents. Bar charts are perfect for categorical knowledge and comparisons.

To discover further capabilities and choices for personalisation of the Angular Bar Chart, check with this documentation.

Let’s examine the gold manufacturing of the highest 5 nations for 2024 utilizing our Angular Bar Chart. We’ll use knowledge from the gold manufacturing statistics offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to show these figures. Right here, the bar chart requires the knowledge, xName, and yName for the collection to render. On this case, the xName represents the nations and yName represents the gold manufacturing in metric tons for 2024.

Consult with the next code instance.

app.element.html

<ejs-chart id='chartcontainer' [primaryXAxis]='primaryXAxis' [primaryYAxis]='primaryYAxis'>
  <! -- Chart Collection -->
  <e-series-collection>
      <e-series [dataSource]='knowledge' title="Gold" sort="Column" xName="Nation" 
 yName="GoldProduction" > </e-series>
  </e-series-collection>
</ejs-chart>

app.element.ts

import { Part, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
import { ILoadedEventArgs, ChartTheme, ChartAllModule } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-charts';
import { Browser } from '@syncfusion/ej2-base';

@Part({
    selector: 'app-root',
    templateUrl: 'app.element.html',
    styleUrls: ['app.component.css'],
    encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
    standalone: true,
    imports: [ ChartAllModule, ]
})
export class AppComponent {
    public knowledge: Object[] = [
       { Country: 'China', GoldProduction: 380 },
       { Country: 'Russia', GoldProduction: 310 },
       { Country: 'Australia', GoldProduction: 290 },
       { Country: 'Canada', GoldProduction: 200 },
       { Country: 'United States', GoldProduction: 160 },
    ];

    public primaryXAxis: Object = {
        valueType: 'Class',
        majorGridLines: { width: 0 },
    };

    public primaryYAxis: Object = {
        title: 'Gold Manufacturing (Metric Tons)',
        lineStyle: { width: 0 },
        majorTickLines: { width: 0 },
    };
}

Consult with the next picture.

Notice: For extra particulars, check with the Angular Bar Chart demo on Stackblitz.

When to make use of a Bar Chart?

• To check totally different classes.
• To check the gross sales efficiency of various merchandise throughout numerous areas.
• When displaying discrete knowledge.

Do’s and don’ts of Bar Charts

Do’s

• Do use bar charts to match portions throughout totally different classes. Bar charts work greatest once you need to examine totally different objects or teams when it comes to magnitude.
• Do apply totally different colours or patterns for every class. This makes every knowledge collection stand out and improves readability when evaluating a number of teams.
• Do add knowledge labels the place applicable. Displaying knowledge labels may help the viewers perceive the precise values at a look, decreasing the necessity to refer again to the axis.

Don’ts

• Don’t use bar charts for time-series knowledge. Once you’re coping with steady knowledge over time, a line chart is extra applicable, as a bar chart would possibly distort the tendencies.
• Don’t make the bars too slender or too extensive. Slim bars could make the chart look crowded, whereas overly extensive bars could make the chart much less readable. Select the suitable bar width.
• Don’t muddle the chart with extreme classes. Too many classes may end up in overlapping or unreadable bars. Restrict the variety of classes or think about grouping them if vital.

Line Chart vs. Bar Chart: Which one do you have to select?

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Conclusion

Thanks for studying! Each the Line and Bar Charts play very important roles in knowledge visualization. Line Charts are the only option in case your purpose is to research tendencies and observe adjustments over time. Conversely, in case your goal is to match totally different classes, Bar Charts are simpler. Understanding when to make use of every sort lets you create clear and insightful visualizations in your knowledge.

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