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Chart

A chart is a pictorial representation of data which helps us to compare and analyse data and

observe patterns and trends in it. A chart can be two dimensional (data is plotted on X, Y
coordinates) or three dimensional (data is plotted on X, Y, Z coordinates).

Advantages of Charts

• Charts are more attractive than simple presentation of data.

• Charts are easy to compare and understand as they present data in a compact manner.

Components of a Chart

Let’s learn about various components of a chart.
• Data Series: It refers to the data entries from which a chart is derived. A chart can have
one or more than one data series.

• X Axis: It is the horizontal axis of a chart and is also known as the category axis.
• Y Axis: It is the vertical axis of a chart and is also known as the value axis. The value of

each data point is plotted on this axis.
• Chart Title: It is usually placed at the top of a chart which helps the users to understand
what the chart represents.
• Chart Area: It refers to all the objects of the chart.

• Plot Area: It is the rectangular area bounded by the two axes where the chart is plotted.
The X axis and Y axis defi ne the two sides of a rectangular plot area.
• Legend: It identifi es each data series. A unique colour or pattern is assigned to each data
series to make it easier to distinguish between them visually.

• Gridlines: They are the lines that run from each category on the X axis and from each
value on the Y axis across the plot area.

Chart area
Learn More
Y axis Gridlines
You can have as many
Data series
as 256 data series in a
Plot area
chart in Excel 2016.

X axis

Legend

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