Area Chart
Describes how area charts use filled regions under lines to emphasize the magnitude and composition of metrics over time.
Area Chart: Using Shaded Areas to Show Trends Over Time
Definition
An area chart is a variation of a line chart where the space under the line is filled with color or shading. This fill emphasizes the magnitude of a metric over time and makes it easier to see how totals grow or shrink.
Single vs. Stacked Area Charts
A single-series area chart shows one metric over time, while stacked area charts show multiple series stacked on top of each other. Stacked versions let you see both the total and how different segments contribute to that total across time.
When to Use an Area Chart
Area charts shine when you care about cumulative magnitude and part-to-whole relationships over time, such as total users by plan or total revenue by region. When you care more about precise comparisons between series than the total, a simple line or bar chart may be clearer.