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{{short description|Graphical representation of data}} {{other uses|Chart (disambiguation)|Graph (disambiguation)|Diagram}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2011}} [[File:Composition of 38th Parliament.svg|class=skin-invert-image|thumb|A [[pie chart]] showing the composition of the [[38th Canadian Parliament|38th]] Parliament of Canada]] A '''chart''' (sometimes known as a '''graph''') is a [[graphics|graphical representation]] for [[data visualization]], in which "the [[data]] is represented by [[symbol]]s, such as bars in a [[bar chart]], lines in a [[line chart]], or slices in a [[pie chart]]".<ref>Cary Jensen, Loy Anderson (1992). ''Harvard graphics 3: the complete reference''. Osborne McGraw-Hill {{ISBN|0-07-881749-8}} p.413</ref> A chart can represent [[Table (information)|tabular]] [[number|numeric]] data, [[Graph of a function|functions]] or some kinds of [[Quality of service|quality]] structure and provides different info. The term "chart" as a graphical representation of [[data]] has multiple meanings: * A data chart is a type of [[diagram]] or [[Graph of a function|graph]], that organizes and represents a set of numerical or qualitative data. * [[Map]]s that are adorned with extra information ([[map surround]]) for a specific purpose are often known as charts, such as a [[nautical chart]] or [[aeronautical chart]], typically spread over several [[map sheet]]s. * Other domain-specific constructs are sometimes called charts, such as the [[chord chart]] in music notation or a [[record chart]] for album popularity. Charts are often used to ease understanding of large quantities of data and the relationships between parts of the data. Charts can usually be read more quickly than the raw data. They are used in a wide variety of fields, and can be created by hand (often on [[graph paper]]) or by computer using a [[charting application]]. Certain types of charts are more useful for presenting a given data set than others. For example, data that presents [[percentage]]s in different groups (such as "satisfied, not satisfied, unsure") are often displayed in a [[pie chart]], but maybe more easily understood when presented in a horizontal [[bar chart]].<ref>[[Howard Wainer]] (1997) ''Visual revelations: graphical tales of fate and Deception from Napoleon Bonaparte to Ross Perot'', Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. {{ISBN|0-8058-3878-3}} p.87-90.</ref> On the other hand, data that represents numbers that change over a period of time (such as "annual revenue from 1990 to 2000") might be best shown as a [[line chart]].
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