Charts can be graphs (line charts), but some aren’t (pie charts). ChartsĬharts also represent quantitative data. Individual data points are plotted on a 2D or 3D axis, for example, as a scatterplot.

They are generated from a numerical data set and commonly used in mathematics, finance, and engineering. For example, infographics explain complex topics in simple abstract visualisations, and dependency graphs show relationships between various elements. The word ‘graph’ is used outside of this context. Graphs can visualise numerical data or a mathematical function, and are often generated from data in a spreadsheet. Graphs usually represent quantitative data on an 2D image with an x-y axis, using lines or bars. For example, an image with labels, a tree diagram categorising items, a floor plan, an infographic, an electrical wiring diagram, a process flow, and so on.Ī good rule of thumb for using more specific terms - when the visualisation is driven by a numerical data set, chart, graph or plot will be more accurate. You could think of diagrams as the super-category: Anything that visualises information in an abstract way is a diagram. Here’s a rough guide to the difference between charts, graphs, diagrams, figures, plots, maps, and models. However, there are some minor differences in how they are used. Have you been asked to create a chart, a diagram, or a graph? There is a lot of confusion around these overlapping terms, especially as they are most often used interchangeably.

Funny venn diagrams graphs