Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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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.
Parts
- Mark — The core mark of Bar chart is length of rectangles on one baseline.
- Scale — The scale must show zero (or a declared break) and units.
- Axis — Axis titles name the variable, not a mood.
- Legend — A legend is weaker than a direct label. Write beside the mark when you can.
- Label — Numbers are optional. If comparison is the job, label the ends only.
- Grid — Keep the grid faint. Data should own the ink.
- Annotation — One annotation sentence. Date the source.
- Frame — A thin frame. Never a 3-D box.
Variants
- Column chart — Variant 1 of Bar chart (Column chart). Same encoding, different layout.
- Category bars — Variant 2 of Bar chart (Category bars). Same encoding, different layout.
- Playfair bars — Variant 3 of Bar chart (Playfair bars). Same encoding, different layout.
- Bar chart 4 — Variant 4 of Bar chart (Bar chart 4). Same encoding, different layout.
Labels
- Axis — On Bar chart, make Mark readable.
- Legend — On Bar chart, make Scale readable.
- Label — On Bar chart, make Axis readable.
- Grid — On Bar chart, make Legend readable.
- Annotation — On Bar chart, make Label readable.
Bar chart: honour length of rectangles on one baseline, and switch when too many categories, 3-D extrusion, or dual-axis tricks.