Bar Chart
Explains how bar charts compare categories or discrete time periods with simple, easy-to-read rectangular bars.
Bar Chart: Comparing Categories with Bars
Definition
A bar chart uses rectangular bars to compare values across categories or discrete time buckets. The length of each bar represents the magnitude of the value, making differences between categories easy to see at a glance.
How Bar Charts Are Used
Common use cases include comparing revenue by product, leads by channel, or tickets by priority. Bars can be vertical or horizontal, grouped to compare subcategories, or stacked to show composition in addition to totals.
Why Bar Charts Work So Well
Because people are good at judging length on a common axis, bar charts are one of the clearest and most universally understood visuals. They are ideal when your primary goal is a straightforward comparison between categories.