📘 Data Visualization Glossary

A

Accessibility Testing

The process of checking if your dashboard can be used by people with different abilities (color vision, keyboard navigation, screen readers). A must for inclusive design.

Acquisition (Data)

The process of obtaining data from various sources, such as databases, APIs, or manual uploads, to support analysis and visualization.

Aggregation

Combining multiple data points into summary values (e.g., sums, averages, counts) to simplify analysis and improve interpretability. Helps reduce clutter and show trends, not noise.

Agile

A project management methodology that emphasizes iterative development, flexibility, and regular stakeholder feedback — often applied in dashboard and analytics projects.

Alias

An alternate name or label for a field or measure used to improve readability or context in dashboards.

Analysis

The systematic exploration and interpretation of data reveal patterns, correlations, and insights that inform decision-making.

Analytical Thinking

The ability to break down complex data problems into smaller components, evaluate relationships, draw logical conclusions, and see patterns that others may miss.

Annotation

Notes, highlights, or callouts added directly to a chart or dashboard to provide context, explanations, or emphasize key points ("Sales dropped here due to supply shortage"). Adds clarity and storytelling.

Anomaly

A data point or event that deviates significantly from the norm and may indicate errors, outliers, or meaningful exceptions.

API (Application Programming Interface)

A set of rules and protocols that allow software systems to communicate, often used for connecting data sources and automating visualization workflows.

Area Chart

A variation of a line chart that fills the space below the line to show the magnitude of change over time or categories.

Automation

Using scripts, workflows, or APIs to perform repetitive data or visualization tasks automatically, improving efficiency and consistency.

Blank lines for new terms related to your domain and for any additional notes.

B

Backend Development

The behind-the-scenes work of dashboard creation: connecting databases, managing APIs, preparing and optimizing queries, and transforming data used by front-end visualization tools and dashboards.

Bar Chart

A simple yet powerful chart type that compares categories or groups using rectangular bars proportional to their values.

Benchmark

A target or reference line that lets users instantly see if a number is good or bad. Example: adding a goal line to a KPI chart.

BI (Business Intelligence)

The practice of transforming raw data into actionable insights through reporting, visualization, and analytics tools.

Bias (Visual)

A distortion in perception caused by chart design, such as misleading scales, missing data, or color, unintentionally leads people to draw incorrect conclusions.

Big Data

Extremely large datasets that require specialized tools and techniques for storage, processing, and analysis. For dashboard creators, it often means focusing on the right slice of data.

Box Plot

A statistical chart that visualizes the distribution of data using quartiles, median, and potential outliers.

Bug

A small error or malfunction in a dashboard or data query. Fixing them early saves credibility later.

C

Cardinality

The uniqueness of data values within a column or field, often influencing how data can be aggregated or joined; high cardinality indicates many unique entries (e.g., user IDs).

Categorical Variable

A data field that represents a label or group (e.g., region, gender, product type). Used for grouping and comparison.

Categorization

The process of grouping data points into predefined or discovered categories for better analysis or comparison.

Change Over Time

A visualization concept focusing on how values evolve across sequential periods, typically shown through line or area charts.

Chart

A graphical representation of data that helps reveal patterns, trends, or comparisons visually. The foundation of all dashboards.

Chart Type

The specific visual format (e.g., bar chart, scatterplot, pie chart) chosen based on the data's structure and the analytical question.

Cheat Sheet

A compact visual guide or summary that helps recall design rules, chart types, or color meanings quickly.

Checklist

A structured list to ensure nothing is forgotten in your dashboard design process. Helps standardize quality.

Choropleth Map

A geographic visualization that uses varying shades of color to represent data values across regions.

Cleaning (Data)

Removing errors, duplicates, and inconsistencies from data before analysis. The least glamorous but most critical step in any project.

Clutter

Unnecessary or excessive visual elements in a visualization that distract from the main message or insights.

Color Palette

A defined set of colors used in visual design to maintain consistency, hierarchy, and readability.

Comparison

The way individual parts contribute to a whole, often visualized through pie, stacked, or 100% bar charts.

Context

The background information, conditions, or objectives that give meaning to data and guide visualization design.

Continuous Variable

A variable that can take any numeric value within a range, such as temperature or revenue.

Coordinate System

The reference grid (e.g., Cartesian, polar) that defines how data points are positioned in a visualization.

Correlation

A statistical relationship showing how two variables change together; used to identify dependencies or patterns.

Crosstab

A table displaying relationships between two or more categorical variables, often used for summarizing survey or categorical data.

Clustering

A data mining method that groups similar data points together to identify patterns or natural segments.

D

Dashboard

A visual collection of charts and metrics designed to answer key business questions at a glance, helping users monitor performance and make informed decisions efficiently.

Dashboard Development

The complete life cycle of creating a dashboard: planning, designing, building, testing, user adoption, and maintenance.

Dashboard Sketching

The initial stage of visual planning where key layout and information architecture are outlined on paper or digitally before tool-based design.

Data Art

The creative expression of data beyond charts—turning numbers into visuals that inspire curiosity or emotion. It's not about making decisions, but about making data tangible.

Data Catalog

A structured inventory of data assets that describes sources, definitions, and ownership for improved discoverability and governance.

Data Delivery

The process of distributing processed or visualized data to stakeholders through dashboards, reports, or APIs.

Data Dictionary

A centralized document or table that defines data fields, types, formats, and meanings to maintain clarity and consistency.

Data Exploration

Interactively analyzing data to generate hypotheses, uncover patterns, and validate assumptions before visualization.

Data Governance

The set of policies, roles, and standards ensuring data accuracy, privacy, and security across the organization.

Data Integration

Combining data from different systems or formats into a unified view for analysis and visualization.

Data Integrity

The assurance that data remains accurate, consistent, and reliable throughout its lifecycle.

Data Lake

A large, centralized repository for storing raw, unstructured, or semi-structured data at scale.

Data Lineage

Documentation showing how data moves and transforms through systems — from origin to final output.

Data Literacy

The ability to read, understand, and communicate data effectively.

Data Manipulation

Adjusting, filtering, or restructuring data to prepare it for analysis or visualization.

Data Migration

Moving data from one system or platform to another while maintaining structure and integrity.

Data Mining

Applying statistical or machine learning methods to discover patterns and relationships in large datasets.

Data Pipeline

The automated flow for delivering data from multiple sources to analysis or visualization tools. A good pipeline ensures seamless extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL), allowing developers to focus on analysis rather than technical complexity.

Data Product

Any output, such as a dashboard, API, or dataset, designed to provide reusable and valuable data insights.

Data Quality

The degree to which data is accurate, complete, reliable, and fit for its intended analytical purpose.

Data Source

The original location or system from which data is obtained (e.g., database, file, or web service).

Data Structure

The organized format or schema that defines how data is stored, related, and accessed, such as tables, arrays, or JSON objects.

Data Transformation

Modifying data structure or values to make it compatible with analysis or visualization requirements.

Data Visualization Ethics

The practice of designing visuals responsibly, avoiding misleading representations, and maintaining data integrity.

Data Wrangling (Munging)

The process of cleaning, restructuring, and enriching raw data to make it usable for analysis.

Database

An organized collection of structured information stored electronically and managed through database systems.

Dataset (or Data Set)

A collection of related data organized in a structured format, ready for analysis or visualization.

Decision Making

The process of leveraging data insights to guide decisions and actions. The primary goal of every dashboard is to assist users in selecting actions based on data.

Decision Tree

A branching diagram used to visualize possible outcomes, paths, or decision rules.

Discrete

A variable that has distinct, separate values (such as days of the week or number of items sold), unlike continuous data that can take any value within a range.

Design

The intentional organization of elements — layout, color, typography, and hierarchy — to communicate information clearly.

Distribution

The way values of a dataset are spread or dispersed, often visualized with histograms or box plots to show patterns and variability.

Diagram

A simplified drawing that illustrates relationships, structures, or flows in a process.

Dimension

A categorical field used to slice and group data (e.g., by region or product).

Drill-down

The ability to explore data deeper (e.g., clicking a region to see individual stores).

E

Embedded Visual or Dashboard

A visualization or dashboard integrated directly into another platform or application, allowing data insights within user workflows.

Enrichment (Data)

Adding extra data to make analysis more meaningful (e.g., adding weather data to sales data).

ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)

A data integration process that extracts data from sources, transforms it for analysis, and loads it into a target system, into a database or visualization tool.

Explanatory Visualization

A visualization designed to communicate a specific insight or story to an audience, often after analysis has been completed.

Exploratory Visualization

A visualization created during data analysis to help discover patterns, relationships, or anomalies before forming conclusions.

Extract (Data)

The process of retrieving data from one or more sources for transformation or analysis. It also represents a stored snapshot of data used by BI toolsfor faster performance compared to live connections.

F

Filter

A control or condition applied to data to limit or focus the view on specific categories, timeframes, or values.

Flow Chart

A diagram that visually represents a process or workflow, showing steps, decisions, and their sequence.

Focus Area

The main topic, domain, or question that a dashboard or visualization is designed to address.

Framework (of Data Analysis)

A structured approach that outlines the key steps, methods, and considerations in analyzing and visualizing data. Examples: CRISP-DM, OODA, or 5C Dashboard Design System™

Frequency Distribution

A summary that shows how often each value or range of values occurs in a dataset, often displayed in histograms.

Frontend Development

The "visible" side of a dashboard or web app. It's what users interact with—layouts, filters, colors, and charts—often built with tools like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or BI platforms like Tableau and Power BI.

G

Granularity

The level of detail represented in data; high granularity means more detailed records, while low granularity means summarized data.

Graph

A general term for a data visualization that shows relationships between values. Often used interchangeably with "chart."

Gridlines

Horizontal or vertical lines in a chart that help guide the eye and improve readability without distracting from the main data.

Guideline (Visualization)

A best-practice rule or recommendation that ensures clarity, accuracy, and visual consistency in data communication.

H

Heatmap

A visualization technique that uses color gradients to represent data intensity or frequency, revealing patterns and correlations at a glance.

Hierarchy (Visual)

The arrangement of elements by order of importance or logical structure in visual design.

Highlighting

A method to emphasize specific data points or visual elements to draw user attention.

Histogram

A chart that displays the distribution of a continuous variable by dividing it into intervals (bins).

Human-Centered Design

A design approach that focuses on users' needs, behaviors, and goals to create intuitive and effective dashboards.

Hypotheses

Assumptions or predictions made before data analysis that can be tested through evidence and statistical methods.

Hypotheses Testing

A statistical process for evaluating whether observed data supports or rejects a given hypothesis using measures like significance levels or p-values.

I

Icon

A simplified graphical symbol used to represent an idea, category, or action in visual design (💰 for revenue); used to aid recognition and reduce text clutter.

Infographic

A single visual piece combining text, images, and charts to tell a data story in a visually engaging way.

Insight

The "aha!" moment a dashboard delivers—the story hidden inside the numbers.

Interactive Visualization

A visualization that allows users to explore data dynamically through filters, tooltips, and interactions.

Interpolation

A mathematical technique used to estimate unknown values between known data points, often applied in smoothing or forecasting.

Isotype

Small pictorial symbols representing quantities or categories (e.g., one person icon = 100 users).

J

Jitter

A method of slightly adjusting data points in a scatterplot to prevent overlap and improve visibility.

Join

Combining two or more datasets based on a shared field, such as customer ID or date, to create a richer data table.

Journey Map

A visual representation of a user's interaction or experience with a dashboard or data process over time.

K

Key

A symbol or text explanation that identifies what different colors, shapes, or lines represent in a chart or map.

KPI (Key Performance Indicator)

A measurable value that tracks progress toward a goal.

KPI Tile / Card

A visual element on a dashboard that highlights a single KPI with its current value, target, and status for quick interpretation.

L

Label

Text attached to a data point, axis, or element that clarifies meaning or values.

Layout

The arrangement of visual elements on a dashboard or page to optimize readability, balance, and focus.

Legend

A guide that explains the meaning of colors, symbols, size, shape, or line styles used in a visualization.

Line Chart

A chart connecting data points with a line to show trends or changes over time.

Linear Scale

A scale where values increase at a constant rate, commonly used when data changes uniformly.

Live Connection (Data)

A real-time link between your dashboard and the database. Always up to date but can be slower than extracts.

Logarithmic Scale

A nonlinear scale used when data values span several orders of magnitude, helping visualize exponential growth or large ranges.

M

Magnitude Comparison

A visualization principle that shows differences in quantity or size between data values, often using bars or columns.

Matrix Chart

A grid-like chart that visualizes relationships or intersections between two categorical variables.

Mean (Average)

A statistical measure calculated by dividing the sum of all values by their count; used to represent central tendency.

Measure

A quantitative field in a dataset that can be aggregated or calculated (e.g., sales, profit, temperature).

Measure vs Dimension

Dimensions describe what you're measuring (categories), while measures describe how much (numerical values).

Median

The middle value of a dataset when sorted in order, dividing the data into two equal halves; less affected by outliers than the mean.

Metric

A key quantitative indicator used to evaluate performance, trends, or progress toward goals.

Mind Map

A visual diagram that organizes related ideas or topics around a central theme, supporting brainstorming and structure.

Minimalism

A design approach that emphasizes simplicity and the removal of unnecessary elements for clarity.

Moving Average

A trend analysis technique that smooths data by averaging subsets of values over a defined period.

N

Narrative (Data Storytelling)

The process of structuring data insights into a clear, engaging story that guides the audience toward understanding.

Normalization

The process of scaling or adjusting values to a common range or format for comparison or analysis.

North Star Metric

The single, most important metric that reflects the core value your product delivers to customers, guiding long-term growth.

NULL

A placeholder indicating missing, unknown, or undefined data in a dataset.

O

Outlier

A data point that significantly differs from other observations and may indicate variability, errors, or new insights.

Overplotting

When too many data points overlap in a chart, making it hard to distinguish individual values; often resolved using transparency or jitter.

Overview Dashboard

A high-level summary view that provides an at-a-glance understanding of key metrics and trends before users drill into details.

P

Part-to-Whole Comparison

A visualization concept showing how individual components contribute to the total, often displayed through pie or stacked bar charts.

Pattern / Trend

A recurring behavior or directional change in data over time, helping reveal insights and predict future outcomes.

Pictogram

Similar to isotype but often more decorative. Great for infographics, not for dense data dashboards.

Pie Chart

A circular chart divided into slices to show part-to-whole comparisons, best used for up to 4 categories.

Pivot

Reorganizing data tables to view information from different perspectives, such as summarizing by rows instead of columns.

Population Pyramid

A back-to-back bar chart displaying the distribution of a population across categories such as age and gender.

Product Analytics

The practice of analyzing user behavior and feature performance to improve digital products and customer experience.

Prototype

A preliminary version of a dashboard or visualization used for testing layout and interaction before final development.

P-Value

A statistical measure that indicates the probability of observing results as extreme as those in your data if the null hypothesis were true.

Q

Quality of Data

The measure of how accurate, consistent, complete, and reliable data is for analysis and decision-making.

Quantitative Visualization

A visualization that focuses on numeric data to reveal patterns, trends, or relationships (e.g., scatterplots, histograms).

R

Real-Time Analytics

The process of analyzing and visualizing data immediately as it's generated, allowing instant insight and action.

Reference Line

A line added to a chart to mark a target, average, or threshold for contextual comparison.

Regression Analysis

A statistical method to model and understand relationships between dependent and independent variables, often for prediction.

Relationship

A logical or statistical connection between two or more variables.

Report

A structured document or visualization that presents analyzed data, often on a fixed schedule or format.

Reporting vs Analytics

Reporting summarizes what happened using static data, while analytics explores why it happened and what to do next.

S

Sample

A subset of a population selected for analysis to infer insights about the whole.

Sankey Diagram

A flow diagram showing the movement and proportion of quantities between stages or categories.

Scale

The numerical or categorical range that defines how values are displayed on a chart's axes.

Scatterplot

A chart displaying values for two variables as points to identify relationships or clusters.

Segmentation

Dividing data into meaningful groups or clusters for deeper analysis and comparison.

Stacked Bar (or Area) Chart

A variation of the bar chart that visualizes parts of a whole across categories.

Stakeholder

Any individual or group with an interest in the insights or outcomes provided by a dashboard or report.

Standalone Data Points

Individual observations that exist outside defined categories or groupings in data.

Standard Deviation

A measure of how spread out data values are around the mean, indicating variability or consistency.

Static Visualization

A non-interactive visualization, often used in reports or presentations where fixed insights are sufficient.

Statistical Significance

A measure indicating whether an observed pattern or relationship is likely genuine or due to random chance.

Storyboarding

Creating a sequence of visual frames to plan the narrative flow of a data story or presentation.

Storytelling

The broader skill of connecting data to human context. Dashboards are one of its most powerful tools.

Streaming Data

Data that continuously flows in real time from various sources like sensors, applications, or web services.

Story Point

A dashboard section that explains one key message or event.

Summary Statistics

Descriptive metrics (mean, median, mode, etc.) that summarize key features of a dataset.

T

Table

A structured arrangement of data in rows and columns for organized viewing and comparison.

Target

A predefined goal or benchmark metric used to evaluate performance.

Testing (Dashboards / Reports)

The process of reviewing dashboards for accuracy, functionality, performance, and user experience before release.

Tidy Data

A structured dataset format where each variable forms a column and each observation forms a row.

Time Series Visualization

A visualization type showing how data changes over time, often using line or area charts.

Timeline

A linear visualization showing chronological events or milestones in sequence.

Tooltip

A contextual popup that provides additional details about a data point on hover or click.

Treemap

A visualization that displays hierarchical data as nested rectangles sized according to their quantitative value.

Trend Line

A line indicating the general direction of data movement over time, used to highlight patterns or predictions.

Typography

The style and arrangement of text in visual design, affecting readability and aesthetic balance.

U

UI (User Interface)

The visual and interactive layer of a dashboard that users see and interact with, including buttons, filters, and layout elements.

Union

A database or data blending operation that combines rows from multiple datasets with matching columns.

Usability Testing

Evaluating how easily and effectively users can interact with a dashboard or visualization to complete specific tasks.

Use Case

A specific scenario or business problem that a dashboard or report is designed to address.

User Flow

A diagram or outline showing the sequence of interactions users take within a dashboard to achieve their goals.

User Story

A short, user-centered description of a feature or requirement (e.g., "As a manager, I want to see weekly sales trends to track performance").

UX (User Experience)

The overall experience and satisfaction a user feels when interacting with a dashboard or analytical product.

V

Variable

A data attribute that holds different values for each observation, such as age, country, or sales.

Venn Diagram

A diagram showing logical relationships between sets using overlapping circles to highlight shared and unique elements.

Visualization (Viz, or Data Visualization)

The graphical representation of data designed to make insights easier to understand, compare, and communicate.

Visual Hierarchy

The structured ordering of visual elements to direct the viewer's attention to the most important information first.

Viz Density

The balance between visual complexity and clarity — ensuring dashboards convey rich information without overwhelming the viewer.

W

White Space

The intentional use of empty space in design to improve focus, readability, and visual balance.

Wireframe

A simplified, structural draft of a dashboard layout showing the placement of elements before applying color or data.

Workflow

A sequence of steps or actions that define how data moves from raw input to visualization or reporting.

X

X-Axis

The horizontal axis in a chart, typically representing independent variables like time or categories.

Y

Y-Axis

The vertical axis in a chart, usually representing dependent variables or measured values.

Z

Zero Line

The baseline in a chart representing zero value; essential for accurate perception of positive and negative values.

Zooming

An interaction technique allowing users to focus on details by adjusting the data view scale.

Z-Score

A statistical measure showing how many standard deviations a data point is from the mean, used to detect outliers or anomalies.