8 de July de 2026 Charts in general are representations that make it easier to visualize and analyze data. There are different types, including area charts, one of the most widely used due to how easy they are to produce, interpret, and use for comparing changes/trends. The goal is to bring practicality to data visualization, especially for research that generates a lot of information, meaning when the numbers are very extensive or need simplification. It’s a model that brings more objectivity, simplicity, and clarity to visual representation, providing a quicker impression of the visual information. What is an area chart An area chart is basically a line chart, where the area between the line and the axis is filled with one or more shading colors, depending on the purpose of the representation. This filled area between the line and the axis indicates precisely the volume of what’s being represented. Production starts with a simple area chart; then the data points on the Cartesian coordinate grid are plotted (connected) by a line, and the space below the lines is filled with different colors. This chart type is ideal for presenting trends, the development of quantitative values over periods of time, and changes in the proportion of a total that each measured factor represents at a given moment. Communication here happens through general trends rather than individual numbers compared across many data series. Types of area charts Area (standard) The standard area chart displays data filled with color in the space below the line. They’re commonly used to show accumulated values over a given period of time. Stacked area The stacked area chart is used to represent accumulated totals through values or percentages captured over a period of time. When creating a stacked area chart, the goal is to make it easier to visualize/compare part-to-whole events, showing how each element contributed to the overall total. Sankey graph The sankey graph is less common. It can be described as a generalization of a stacked chart, whose baseline is shifted to the center. The arrangement (height) of each color represents the change in flow over time, and its length represents its duration. Stepped area chart The stepped area chart is applied in trend representations, highlighting the decrease or increase of values over time. This type of area chart is extremely useful for showing price changes over periods. When to use (and when not to use) area charts As seen, standard area charts show changes over certain periods, trends, and continuity of a data category. In general, it’s best used when: There is data that needs to be expressed as a total; There are available time periods for making comparisons; The data indicates general trends and not individual values; The visualization can display multiple series of data related to each other, parts that are relative to a whole, or a cumulative series of values. It’s also important to consider when not to use area charts, since the information may not be well interpreted. They’re not ideal for showing how values change across a range of different categories. For that, use a bar or column chart. Additionally, if the difference between values is very small, line data can be more informative, since lines can be stretched to emphasize small differences. Because of these characteristics, it’s important to consider whether the area chart meets the main requirements, which are showing a change, a total, and especially whether there are cumulative changes over a period of time. If it doesn’t meet these points, consider another type of chart. Did you enjoy this read? Learn more about data visualization and charts in general on our blog.
-BlogWebinarsWEBINAR: Data Design and Visualization in the Public Sector: Cluster and SEFAZ RS 30 de July de 2026