Line Chart
Show trends and changes over time by connecting data points with lines.
What is a line chart?
A line chart plots data points on a grid and connects them with straight or curved lines. The horizontal axis typically represents time, and the vertical axis represents the measured value. The slope of the line shows the rate of change between points.
Line charts are the go-to choice for showing trends over time. They reveal patterns that would be invisible in a table: acceleration, deceleration, seasonality, and anomalies all become immediately apparent. Multiple lines on the same chart make it easy to compare how different series move relative to each other.
When to use a line chart
- Tracking metrics over time (revenue, traffic, temperature)
- Comparing trends across multiple series
- Spotting seasonality, cycles, or anomalies
- Showing continuous data where the connection between points matters
- Forecasting by extending visible trends
Best practices
- Use consistent time intervals on the x-axis
- Limit to 4-5 lines maximum to avoid clutter
- Use distinct colors and consider line styles (solid, dashed) for accessibility
- Add data point markers when you have fewer than 20 data points
- Consider an area chart if you want to emphasize volume rather than trend
Example
A multi-line chart comparing daily temperatures in two cities over a week.
Make this in Claude
With ChartPane installed, just describe what you want:
Plot daily temperatures for San Francisco and New York this week as a line chart