A line chart is a type of data visualization that displays information as a series of data points connected by straight lines. It’s commonly used to show trends over time — making it a go-to chart for time series analysis, forecasting, and performance tracking.
Line charts are simple yet powerful. By visualizing how values change across a continuous axis (usually time), they help uncover patterns, trends, and anomalies quickly and clearly.
When to Use a Line Chart
- Time-based trends: Track performance over days, months, or years
- Comparing multiple series: Show how two or more metrics evolve over time
- Forecasting: Visualize future trends using projected data
- Monitoring KPIs: Plot metric evolution to catch deviations early
Line Chart Structure
- X-axis: Usually represents time (e.g., months, days, quarters)
- Y-axis: Represents the variable being measured (e.g., revenue, traffic)
- Lines: Each series is shown as a connected path of data points
Best Practices for Line Charts
- Always use a time-based scale for the X-axis to ensure readability
- Limit the number of lines to 4–5 for clarity
- Use distinct colors or labels for each data series
- Start the Y-axis at zero unless it distorts interpretation
Common Use Cases
- Monthly revenue or expense trends
- Website traffic growth over time
- Sales performance by region
- Customer churn rate evolution
Line Charts in ClicData
ClicData makes it easy to create and customize line charts directly within your dashboards:
- Connect your time-based data from any source (Excel, SQL, APIs, etc.)
- Drag and drop fields to define X and Y axes
- Customize colors, labels, tooltips, and legends for clarity
- Add dynamic filters to explore trends by product, region, or user segment
With scheduled refreshes and real-time data integration, your line charts in ClicData stay current — helping you monitor performance and respond faster.