Dataviz Glossary
The Dataviz Glossary provides concise definitions of key terms and concepts commonly used in data visualization. Whether you’re new to charting or looking to refresh your understanding of specific terms, this glossary serves as a quick reference to enhance your knowledge and improve communication within the field of data visualization.
Cartesian coordinate system
- Definition: A coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely using a pair of numerical values, typically denoted as (x, y), representing horizontal and vertical positions on a two-dimensional plane.
- Example: Line and column charts in Highcharts commonly use the Cartesian coordinate system to map data points.
- Related Highcharts concepts: Axes , Series .
Choropleth map
- Definition: A thematic map that uses differences in shading, coloring, or patterns within predefined areas (e.g., countries or regions) to represent the magnitude of a variable, such as population density or income levels.
- Example: A map showing average rainfall levels across regions, where darker shades indicate higher rainfall.
- Related Highcharts concepts: Map series , Color axis .
Mosaic plot
- Definition: A graphical display that uses rectangular segments to represent categorical data. The area of each segment is proportional to the frequency or proportion of the categories it represents. Also known as Marimekko or Mekko chart.
- Example: Mosaic plots are used to display multi-dimensional categorical data, where each rectangle size visually indicates the relationship between different variables.
- Related Highcharts concepts: Variwide series , Treemap series .
Tree (data structure)
- Definition: A hierarchical data structure used to organize elements in a parent-child relationship. Each element, called a node, can have multiple child nodes but only one parent (except for the root node, which has none).
- Example: Used to represent relationships such as organizational charts or file directories. Tree maps and sunburst charts use tree data structures to represent nested data.
- Related Highcharts concepts: Treemap series , Treegraph series , Sunburst series .