Time Series
Line Chart
Connects data points with lines to show trends over time. The workhorse of time-series visualization.
Daily Revenue with 7-day Rolling Mean
Raw daily series + smoothed trend
View data (21 rows)
| Day | Revenue | Revenue 7 day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | 1150 | |
| 2025-01-02 | 980 | |
| 2025-01-03 | 1320 | |
| 2025-01-04 | 1450 | |
| 2025-01-05 | 1120 | |
| 2025-01-06 | 1580 | |
| 2025-01-07 | 1290 | |
| 2025-01-08 | 1410 | |
| 2025-01-09 | 1620 | |
| 2025-01-10 | 1250 | |
| 2025-01-11 | 1780 | |
| 2025-01-12 | 1520 | |
| 2025-01-13 | 1690 | |
| 2025-01-14 | 1850 | |
| 2025-01-15 | 1440 | |
| 2025-01-16 | 1920 | |
| 2025-01-17 | 1760 | |
| 2025-01-18 | 2050 | |
| 2025-01-19 | 1890 | |
| 2025-01-20 | 2210 | |
| 2025-01-21 | 1970 |
Use a line chart when…
- Showing trends over time
- Comparing multiple series
- Identifying patterns, cycles, anomalies
Avoid when…
- Fewer than 4 data points
- Categorical comparison (use bar)
- Part-to-whole (use stacked area)
Data it needs
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Min Rows | 4 |
| Min Columns | 2 |
| Column Types | datenumber |
Visual anatomy
Marks
linecircle (optional)
Channels
position-xposition-ycolor-hue
Axes
x-timey-quantitative
Guiding principles
Consider instead
Common mistakes
Too many lines (>5) without highlighting
Dual y-axes confusing readers
Inconsistent time intervals
History
Invented by William Playfair in 1786, one of the earliest statistical graphics.
Accessibility notes
Describe trend direction. Use distinct line styles (solid, dashed) alongside color.
Related reading
Got data? Let's see what works.
Drop your CSV. You'll get a Line Chart plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.