Stacked Area Chart
Stacked area charts display multiple data series by stacking each series on top of the previous ones, creating a cumulative visualization. This chart type is particularly useful for showing both individual component values and their contribution to the total, making it ideal for part-to-whole analysis over time. The stacking allows viewers to see both the overall trend and the changing composition of the whole.
Definition
Stacked area charts display multiple data series by stacking each series on top of the previous ones, creating a cumulative visualization. This chart type is particularly useful for showing both individual component values and their contribution to the total, making it ideal for part-to-whole analysis over time. The stacking allows viewers to see both the overall trend and the changing composition of the whole.
Examples
Traffic sources by device type shown as stacked areas, revealing both the total traffic trend and the changing proportion of each device type over six months
Chart Visualization
This example includes an interactive chart visualization with 6 data points.
Chart type: area
Usage
Best Used For
- Showing part-to-whole relationships over time or sequence
- Comparing proportions between categories while seeing the total
- Visualizing composition changes within a total that itself may be changing
- Displaying cumulative values across multiple categories
- Tracking market share or percentage distributions over time
Data Requirements
[Object]
Limitations
Important Considerations
- ⚠Hard to compare non-adjacent series due to varying baselines
- ⚠Can be misleading due to changing baselines for upper series
- ⚠Complex to interpret with many categories (limit to 5-7 series)
- ⚠Small values may become difficult to see or compare
- ⚠Requires careful color selection to distinguish adjacent areas
Best Used For
- Showing part-to-whole relationships over time or sequence
- Comparing proportions between categories while seeing the total
- Visualizing composition changes within a total that itself may be changing
- Displaying cumulative values across multiple categories
- Tracking market share or percentage distributions over time
