Intro to visualizations

Visualizations are graphical data elements that add visual context to your analysis. They allow you to create, explore, and view your data in a more focused and digestible format.

By adding visualizations to a workbook, you can reveal patterns, trends, outliers, and correlations crucial to creating a compelling data narrative. Build each visualization to deliver specific data insights and answer important questions that help you make better business decisions.

This document introduces the types of visualizations Sigma offers and explains where to configure element properties and formatting.

Visualization types

Effective visualizations are essential to telling meaningful data stories, but choosing the right types of visualizations can be a challenge. Consider the type of data you want to visualize, the questions you need to answer, and the users who will view and consume your analysis.

The following information can help you choose visualizations best suited for a clear and detailed narrative.

Bar chart

Show how values vary across categories or groups of data. Compare values against each other, in relation to a reference mark, or as proportions of a whole.

See Build a bar chart.

Line chart

Show how values of one or more metrics change over time. Spot trends and identify anomalies in your dataset.

See Build a line chart.

KPI chart

Highlight a single metric value to measure performance or progress toward a goal. Summarize the total value for a specific period, compare the value over time, or measure it against a benchmark or target.

See Build a KPI chart.

Area chart

Illustrate the magnitude or cumulative values of one or more metrics over time. Compare categories or groups of data, or evaluate the data composition or part-to-whole relationship.

See Area charts.

Scatter plot

Demonstrate the presence and strength of a correlation between metrics. Analyze patterns, understand distribution, and identify outliers in your dataset.

See Build a scatter plot.

Combo chart

Combine bar, line, area, and/or point marks to compare multiple types of metrics. Evaluate the relationship to identify correlations and variations between the datasets.

See Combo charts.

Box chart

Show the value distribution of one or more metrics. Mark the minimum, median, and maximum values, and identify outliers in your dataset.

See Box and whisker charts.

Pie and donut charts

Portray values as proportions of a whole to convey the data distribution and part-to-whole relationship.

See Pie and donut charts.

Sankey diagram

Show how data flows and changes throughout a process or system. Compare the movements and proportions of data across different paths to analyze distributions, workflow, networks, and more.

See Build a Sankey diagram.

Funnel chart

Measure values across sequential stages in a linear process. Gain insight into inputs across stages, identify bottlenecks and other issues, and assess the overall health of the process.

See Build a funnel chart.

Gauge chart

Measure a single-value metric against a radial scale. Evaluate growth, assess performance, and track progress toward a goal.

See Build a gauge chart.

Waterfall chart

Show changes in one or two categories of data over a time period.

See Build a waterfall chart.

Region map

Illustrate data distribution by region, including country, state, county, and city. Compare scale to identify variability and patterns across distinct geographical areas.

See Maps.

Point map

Illustrate data distribution with precise positioning based on latitude and longitude coordinates. Reveal geospatial patterns and identify outliers in your dataset.

See Maps.

Geography map

Illustrate geospatial objects on a map using geography (WKT) or variant (GeoJSON) data. Demonstrate data distribution, reveal patterns, illustrate spatial networks, or assess data variability across distinct geographical areas.

See Build a geography map.

Custom configurations

Visualizations feature various properties and formatting options that determine how your data is represented. With a wide range of customizable configurations, you can enhance your visualizations and ensure they present meaningful and actionable information.

Properties

The Element properties panel requires you to select a visualization type and configure source columns to define chart properties, including axis categories, metrics, colors, and tooltips.

You can convert data value types, change the data aggregation or truncation, and customize chart markers and tooltips. Depending on the visualization type selected, you may also have options to change the chart orientation, modify data stacking, and add trellis rows and columns.

**Element properties** panel in **Edit** mode

Element properties panel in Edit mode

Formatting

The Element format panel allows you to customize the appearance of various components, including the visualization title’s content, size, and alignment. Depending on the visualization type selected, you may also be able to format the background, axes, legend, data labels, reference marks, trend lines, and more.

**Element format** panel in **Edit** mode

Element format panel in Edit mode