When do i use a bar graph

This is also commonly referred to as a column chart. If you was trying to compare the height of something then intuitvely you would represent this by using columns. This is generally a good chart to choose for all comparison based analysis but if you were to display a data set with negative values a column would be the best to represent this.

Most people associate negative values with a downward direction, which relates back to intuitive direction, so ultimately you need to decide what you are trying to represent with your data. An example of this can be seen below. If you want to learn how to easily make a Bar Chart with ChartBlocks then in our FAQ area we have a step by step guide of how to make charts? For a single bar chart, you can see the values of items clearly with the length of each bar. Take below chart as an example, you can find the quantities of registered players in each Brazil national teams visually.

If categories are more than 5, it might be difficult to view the label of categories in vertical column charts. For this reason, horizontal bar charts help you view a large number of categories.

Take the following single chart as an example, it is clear and comfortable to view month lists next to the vertical axis. As far as you know, single bar chart is intuitive to view the values. But if you want to know data of a group of categories, the clustered bar chart really helps. Clustered bar charts are good for comparing among each element under those categories, and comparing items across categories. A bar graph is a way to display information. How the data is chosen to be displayed could affect its interpretation.

For example, if too large of a scale is chosen, then the data may appear insignificant—when in fact it could be very significant, but the scale doesn't allow for an appropriate comparison. Bar graphs may also make data look compelling when it actually could be lacking substance. As with all data, verify the source it comes from, and make sure it is from a large enough pool or sample. For example, looking at only a few days worth of volume data in a stock doesn't provide much relevant information.

Yet looking at how recent volume compares to volume over the last year will provide a technical trader with more information for analyzing the volume. Technical Analysis Basic Education. Advanced Technical Analysis Concepts. Your Privacy Rights.

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Bar graphs have an x- and y-axis and can be used to showcase one, two, or many categories of data. When smaller changes exist, line graphs are better to use than bar graphs. Line graphs can also be used to compare changes over the same period of time for more than one group. Pie charts are best to use when you are trying to compare parts of a whole. They do not show changes over time.