Types of graphs explained: guide that doesn’t make you want to cry
Stop pretending you understand the difference between a chart and a graph. Nobody actually cares about the terminology—what matters is understanding the different types of graphs and when to use them so your data doesn’t look like a complete disaster.
It’s basically any visual representation of information. It could be a flowchart, a floor plan, or that thing you drew on a napkin to explain why your project is behind schedule.
Charts vs graphs vs data visualizations
Here’s the truth nobody wants to tell you—these terms are basically interchangeable in real life. Charts and graphs both show data visually. Data visualization is just the fancy academic term for the same thing. Anyone getting pedantic about the difference probably has too much time on their hands.
What is important?
Does your visual help people understand your data faster than staring at a spreadsheet? If yes, you’re winning. If no, you’re part of the problem.
Types of graphs and charts
There are approximately 47 different chart types you could learn, but honestly? You need maybe 6 of them to handle 95% of real-world situations. Let’s focus on what actually gets used instead of what looks impressive in design portfolios.
Basic building blocks (master these first)
Bar charts: a reliable workhorse
Best for: Comparing quantities across categories
When to use: Sales by region, survey responses, pretty much anything you need to compare
Why it works: Human brains are wired to compare heights and lengths
Simple graph truth: If you only learn one chart type, make it this one
Line graphs: trend detector
Best for: Showing changes over time
When to use: Website traffic, stock prices, your declining motivation levels throughout the week
Why it works: Natural flow that shows direction and momentum
Pro tip: Don’t connect points that aren’t actually related over time (looking at you, people who make line charts with categorical data)
Pie charts: the controversial circle
Best for: Showing parts of a whole (when you have 5 or fewer categories)
When to avoid: When you have more than 5 slices, when percentages don’t add to 100%, when you want people to actually read your data accurately
Reality check: Everyone uses them, statisticians hate them, they work for simple stuff. Deal with it.
Best for: Showing the correlation between two variables
When to use: Height vs weight, advertising spend vs sales, hours studied vs test scores
Why it matters: The only chart that shows you if two things actually relate to each other
Bonus points: Add a trend line, and suddenly you look like you know statistics
Histograms: the distribution detective
Best for: Showing how data is spread out
When to use: Age ranges, income brackets, response times
Not the same as: Bar charts (even though they look similar)
Why it’s useful: Shows patterns in your data that averages hide
Area charts: the stacked story
Best for: Showing cumulative totals over time
When to use: Budget breakdowns over time, website traffic sources, anything where the total matters as much as the parts
Warning: Can get messy fast with too many categories
Specialized players (for specific jobs)
Different types of diagrams solve different communication problems. Here’s when to use what:
Process & workflow diagrams
Flowchart: the decision tree
Best for: Step-by-step processes, decision points, troubleshooting guides
When to use: Onboarding workflows, approval processes, “if this then that” scenarios
Reality check: Great for complex processes, overkill for simple instructions
Swimlane diagrams: the responsibility tracker
Best for: Processes involving multiple people/departments
When to use: Cross-functional workflows, figuring out who does what when
Why it works: Shows handoffs and prevents the “I thought you were doing that” disasters
Process maps: the efficiency hunter
Best for: Identifying bottlenecks and waste in existing processes
When to use: Process improvement projects, documenting current state vs future state
Pro tip: Start simple, or you’ll spend more time diagramming than actually fixing things
Relationship & structure diagrams
Organizational charts: the hierarchy reality check
Best for: Company structure, reporting relationships, project teams
When to avoid: When your org changes every quarter (just accept the chaos)
Different types: Traditional hierarchies, matrix structures, flat org experiments
Mind maps: the brain dump tool
Best for: Brainstorming, project planning, organizing scattered thoughts
When to use: Creative processes, note-taking, when linear thinking isn’t working
Warning: Looks impressive in meetings, can be useless for actual execution
Network diagrams: the connection visualizer
Best for: Showing relationships between entities
When to use: Social networks, system architectures, influence mapping
Reality: Most people think they need this, but very few actually do
Educational & analysis diagrams
Venn diagrams: the overlap identifier
Best for: Showing similarities and differences between 2-3 things
When to use: Comparing features, finding common ground, explaining overlapping concepts
Limit: Works with 2-3 circles max, after that it’s just confusing blobs
Tree diagrams: the breakdown structure
Best for: Hierarchical information, decision trees, category breakdowns
When to use: Family trees, file structures, tournament brackets
Why it works: Natural way humans process hierarchical information
Concept maps: the knowledge web
Best for: Showing how ideas connect to each other
When to use: Educational content, knowledge management, explaining complex systems
Difference from mind maps: More structured, shows specific relationships between concepts
Technical & business diagrams
Wireframes: the layout blueprint
Best for: Planning website/app layouts before designing
When to use: Early design phases, communicating structure without getting distracted by colors
Keep it simple: Boxes and lines, not detailed design elements
System diagrams: the architecture overview
Best for: Technical system relationships, data flow, infrastructure mapping
When to use: Technical documentation, planning system changes, troubleshooting
Audience matters: Technical teams vs business stakeholders need different levels of detail
SWOT diagrams: the strategic framework
Best for: Strategic planning, competitive analysis, decision-making frameworks
When to use: Business planning sessions, project evaluations, personal career planning
Reality check: Popular in consulting, actual usefulness varies
Value stream maps: the flow optimizer
Best for: Manufacturing processes, service delivery, identifying waste
When to use: Lean improvement projects, understanding customer value flow
Warning: Can get complex fast, start with a high-level view
Choosing the right diagram type
For processes. Start with simple flowcharts, and add swimlanes if multiple people are involved.
For relationships. Mind maps for brainstorming, org charts for structure, and network diagrams for complex connections.
For analysis. Venn diagrams for comparisons, tree diagrams for breakdowns, concept maps for knowledge systems.
For planning. Wireframes for layouts, system diagrams for technical stuff, and SWOT for strategy.
The overcomplication warning. Most people jump to complex diagram types when a simple list or basic flowchart would work better. Start simple, add complexity only when it actually adds value.
Decision tree: which chart for which data
Stop randomly picking chart types and hoping they work. There’s actually a logical way to figure this out, and it starts with understanding what story your data is trying to tell. Most people skip this step and wonder why their charts look confusing.
Start here: what are you trying to show?
Comparison between categories?
Few categories (2-7): Bar chart
Many categories (8+): Horizontal bar chart
Want to show ranking: Horizontal bar chart, sorted
Change over time?
Continuous data: Line chart
Discrete time periods: Bar chart
Multiple series: Line chart with max 4 lines, or small multiples
Parts of a whole?
Simple breakdown (2-5 parts): Pie chart
Complex breakdown (6+ parts): Bar chart showing percentages
Over time: Stacked area chart
Relationship between variables?
Two continuous variables: Scatter plot
Want to show correlation: Scatter plot with trend line
Multiple variables: Multiple scatter plots, or consider a different approach
Distribution of data?
Show spread: Histogram
Compare distributions: Multiple histograms or box plots
Show outliers: Box plot or scatter plot
Common mistakes that make you look amateur
Using 3D when 2D would work better
3D doesn’t make your chart more professional—it makes it harder to read. Save the 3D effects for your PowerPoint transitions (actually, don’t do that either).
Too many colors
Your chart isn’t a rainbow. Use color intentionally: highlight what matters, keep everything else neutral.
No context or labels
“Revenue increased 47%” means nothing without knowing the time period, comparison point, or actual numbers.
Wrong chart for the data type
Don’t make pie charts for data that doesn’t add up to 100%. Don’t use line charts for categories that aren’t ordered. Don’t make bar charts for continuous data.
Red flags that your chart sucks
People ask for the underlying data immediately
You need 3 paragraphs to explain what it shows
The legend is longer than the actual chart
You had to use Comic Sans to fit all the labels
Someone asks “What’s the Y-axis?”
Rule of thumb
If your chart doesn’t make the data clearer than a simple table or bullet points, you’re wasting everyone’s time. For data that needs more context and storytelling than a single chart can provide, well-designed infographics can bridge the gap between raw data and meaningful narrative.
Key takeaways
Match your graph type to your data type (categorical vs continuous, time series vs comparison)
Less is usually more – fewer colors, fewer elements, fewer data series
Context is everything – labels, timeframes, and comparison points matter
Test with real users – if people can’t read it in 5 seconds, it’s not working
Tables aren’t the enemy – sometimes the simple solution is the right solution
The goal isn’t to make the fanciest visualization possible. It’s to help people understand your data without wanting to throw their computer out the window. Master the basics, use the right tool for the job, and remember that clarity beats creativity every single time.
Now stop overthinking your chart choices and go make something that actually helps people understand your data ✨
Quick reference FAQ:
What’s the difference between charts and graphs? In practice? Nothing. Both show data visually. Don’t overthink it.
When should I use a pie chart? When you have parts of a whole, 5 or fewer categories, and your audience isn’t statisticians.
What are the most common types of charts? Bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, and scatter plots cover 90% of what most people need.
About the author Blake Harmon. Graphic designer specializing in visual communication that drives results. Creates strategic design solutions for complex marketing challenges, approaches each brief with both analytical problem-solving and creative vision. Design history enthusiast who maintains an archive of vintage design ephemera and draws inspiration from diverse historical movements.