Last updated on April 11th, 2024 at 01:14 am
For any business organization, data is the core. Data is used to make decisions regarding future operations.
The main issue is the presentation of this data. Of course, the experienced members of the team can understand the explaination in verbal form, but what about the inexperienced, new, and less knowledgeable members? That is where the data visualization tools come in handy.
The data visualization tools help the team to understand data in a more understandable and visual form. This makes understanding new and complex concepts easier. It helps to understand a large amount of data in seconds. As all the data is compact, it is easier to understand new patterns and trends.
In this article, we will learn about the types of data visualization tools we can use. But first, let’s see what data visualization is.
What is Data Visualisation?
Data visualization is the concept of converting raw data into a visual dataset. It makes it easier to interpret the data for everyone, regardless of whether they are in the analytical field. Data visualization is done with special softwares that convert information into a visual form.
If you want to learn more about the importance and use of data visualization, read : What is Data and Information Visualization? Its Meaning, Importance and 4 main Uses in Business you should know
Types of Data Visualization Tools
Basic Charts and Graphs
1. Line Chart
A line chart or a line graph is a data visualization tool that displays information in a line segment. These lines are connected with a series of data points called markers. This is one of the most basic types of chart used in business.
As they are in a straight-line segment, they usually represent a timeline and a specific benchmark value on the y-axis.
2. Bar Graph
A bar graph or bar chart represents data in categorical form using rectangular bars. The height of these rectangular bars represents the growth against a specific benchmark. These bars can be represented vertically or horizontally. A bar graph is also called a column chart.
3. Pie Chart
A pie chart is a circular tool. It is a statistical graphic tool divided into segments to represent data in numerical proportion. In a Pie chart, each segment or slice’s arc length is proportional to the quantity it represents.
4. Scatter Plot
Scatter plots are data points on a graph of the x and y-axis. They are used to showcase how much one variable can be affected by the other one. It represents this data on a two-dimensional set. Usually, the dependent variable is plotted on the y-axis, and the dependable is plotted on the x-axis.
5. Bubble Chart
A bubble chart is used when there are three or more variables available. Depending on each variable’s impact, the giant bubble they are represented with. In particular circumstances, they can also be used to compare categorical variables or show a trend timeline.
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Specialized Charts and Graphs
1. Histogram
Histogram is similar to the bar graphs. It uses rectangular bars organized side by side to each other, each reprinting a set of data. Histogram is used to show the frequency distribution of the dataset.
2. Gantt Chart
Gantt chart is used in project management. It displays the activity against time to prepare a schedule. It shows how much time the work took to be completed against the scheduled time.
3. PERT Chart
Another project management tool is the PERT chart. PERT – Project Evaluation and Review Technique. PERT chart maps out the task and tracks those tasks’ timelines.
The PERT chart is a free-flow chart. It provides a graphical representation of tasks and their timeline. It helps to determine the shorted way possible to complete the project.
4. Geographic Map
Another one of the Specialised data visualization tools is the geographic map. The geographic map is used to analyze and present geography-related data. A chart can be of a country, region, state, city, or other regions. It can show traffic flows, migration, trading data, etc.
5. Bullets
Bullet graphs are a more complicated form of the bar graph. It is used to compare data of two or more variables. It uses a rectangular bar to represent data.
6. Heat Map
A heat map is a visual representation of data in cold and hot form, which is explained using different color schemes. The warmer areas indicate that there is more interaction in that area. Meanwhile, the cold areas display less interaction.
7. Highlight Table
Highlight tables are used to compare variables with the use of colors. Each color carries a certain level of weight. The colors are then assigned to the data depending on their value to highlight their impact.
8. Tree Map
The last in the list of data visualization tools is the treemap. A tree map is used to show hierarchical data. The map commits of rectangles, each showing the proportion of corresponding data. The bigger the data value, the bigger the rectangle size they have.
ALSO READ : 4 Important types of Information System in Computers – Meaning, Definition Concepts and Components
FAQs
What are data Visualization tools?
Data visualization tools are softwares and applications that convert raw data into a visual form. Graphs, tree maps, heat maps, and highlight tables are commonly used data visualization tools.
What is the best type of data visualization?
Histograms, PERT charts, and Bar graphs are the most used and best data visualization tools worldwide.
Closing Statement
There are several types of data visualization tools available to be used. Each tool offers something different and a new way of presenting the data. You can select which data visualization tool you want to use depending on your data type. You should know which type of tool you should select. Selecting the correct tool can help you identify new patterns and trends in your data.
I hope this article about the Types of data visualization tools is helpful to you. Write your data in the comment box if you have any doubts or suggestions.
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