Radar Chart
Compare multiple variables at once by plotting values on axes that radiate from a center point.
What is a radar chart?
A radar chart (also called a spider chart or web chart) displays multivariate data on a two-dimensional plot with three or more axes radiating from a center point. Each axis represents a different variable, and data points are plotted along these axes and connected to form a polygon. The shape of the polygon reveals the profile of the data.
Radar charts are uniquely good at showing strengths and weaknesses across multiple dimensions simultaneously. Overlaying two or more polygons makes it easy to compare profiles. A perfectly balanced entity forms a regular polygon, while imbalances create distinctive shapes that are immediately recognizable.
When to use a radar chart
- Comparing profiles across 5-8 dimensions (skill assessments, product features)
- Showing strengths and weaknesses at a glance
- Overlaying 2-3 entities to compare their profiles
- Performance reviews and capability assessments
- Competitive analysis across multiple criteria
Best practices
- Use 5-8 axes; fewer than 5 is better as a bar chart, more than 8 becomes unreadable
- Ensure all axes use the same scale (e.g., 0-100)
- Limit to 2-3 overlapping polygons for clarity
- Use semi-transparent fills so overlapping areas are visible
- Order axes logically; place related variables adjacent to each other
- Add gridlines so readers can estimate values without hovering
Example
Comparing two JavaScript frameworks across six criteria, showing their different strengths.
Make this in Claude
With ChartPane installed, just describe what you want:
Compare React and Vue on a radar chart across these criteria: Performance, Ease of Use, Ecosystem, Documentation, Community, Learning Curve (scale 0-100)