Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When should I pick Vega-Lite grammar?
When the story is: reproducible analysis figures, teaching encodings, notebooks.
When should I avoid Vega-Lite grammar?
Skip it in cases like: you only need one disposable bar for a meeting invite.
Who invented or popularised it?
Vega-Lite from the University of Washington Interactive Data Lab
What does it encode?
unit specifications of mark + encoding channels
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.
Vega-Lite grammar encodes values as unit specifications of mark + encoding channels. Vega-Lite from the University of Washington Interactive Data Lab.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits reproducible analysis figures, teaching encodings, notebooks. Skip it when you only need one disposable bar for a meeting invite.
Rules
- Rules 1 — Use unit specifications of mark + encoding channels as one channel, not two.
- Rules 2 — Direct labels beat a distant legend.
- Rules 3 — Do not hide zero. If you break the axis, say so.
- Rules 4 — Colour encodes category or magnitude, not both.
- Rules 5 — Put the claim in the title, not just "Vega-Lite grammar".
- Rules 6 — Source and period, even in small type.
Palette
- Palette 1 — Categories: distinct hues. Sequences: one hue, changing value.
- Palette 2 — Diverging: a neutral centre, emphasis at both ends.
- Palette 3 — One brand colour plus greys beats a rainbow.
- Palette 4 — Check contrast on a projector and in greyscale print.
Type
- Type 1 — Tabular figures for numbers. Do not pour body copy into the chart.
- Type 2 — Titles as sentences; axes as short nouns.
- Type 3 — For CJK, drop weight one step and leave tracking.
Vega-Lite grammar: honour unit specifications of mark + encoding channels, and switch when you only need one disposable bar for a meeting invite.