Bar Chart

A bar chart is a statistical approach to represent given data using vertical and horizontal rectangular bars. The length of each bar is proportional to the value they represent. It is basically a graphical representation of data with the help of horizontal or vertical bars with different heights. In real life, bar graphs are mainly used in the corporate sector.

A bar chart is a representation of numerical data in pictorial form of rectangles (or bars) having uniform width and varying heights." They are also known as bar graphs. Bar charts are one of the means of data handling in statistics. The bar charts have three major characteristics such as:

• The bar charts are used to compare the different data among different groups.
• Bar charts show the relationship with the help of two axes. On one axis it represents the categories and on another axis, it represents the discrete values.
• Over a period of time bar charts shows the major changes in available data.

Let's understand how to draw a bar chart with help of an example. Rose went to the market for buying different types of cakes in different quantities of each- 5 Pine-apple cakes, 3 Mango flavored, 2- Black forest, 3 Strawberry flavored 6 Banana flavored cakes. She wants to display the data of cakes by representing the given information on a bar chart so that she can visually understand which type of cake she purchased the most.

Let us follow the below-mentioned steps to make a bar chart.

• Step 1: Take a graph chart and give the title of the bar chart like "Most Bought Cake".
• Step 2: Draw the horizontal axis (x-axis) and vertical axis (y-axis) on graph paper or chart.
• Step 3: Now label the horizontal axis as "Types of Cakes" and the vertical axis as "Number of Cakes".
• Step 4: Label the flavor of cake names such as pineapple, mango, black forest, strawberry, and, banana. Leave equal space between each flavor name on the horizontal axis.
• Step 5: Fix the scale parameter on the vertical axis for the given data such as 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.
• Step 6: Now start making rectangular bars with equal gaps for each fruit-flavored cake and raise the bar to a certain height according to their respective numbers.
• Step 7: The bar chart is ready, observe the height of the rectangular bars of each cake and find out the most bought cake easily with help of visual representation.

While drawing a bar chart it is necessary to mark four important parameters to have an easy read- labels on axes, the title of a bar chart, scale, and name of the axes.

From the above bar chart, we can easily say that banana flavored cake is the most bought fruit cake that Rose purchased.

Bar Charts are mainly classified into two types:

• Horizontal Bar Charts: When the given data is represented via horizontal bars on a graph (chart) paper such graphs are known as horizontal bar charts. These horizontal rectangular bars show the measures of the given data. In this type, the categories of the data are marked on the x-axis and y-axis. The y-axis category shows the horizontal representation of the bar chart.
• Vertical Bar Charts: When the given data is represented via vertical bars on a graph (chart) paper it is known as a vertical bar chart. These vertical rectangular bars represent the measure of data. The rectangular bars are vertically drawn on the x-axis and the y-axis. These rectangular bars represent the quantity of the variables written on the x-axis.

The bars in bar charts can be plotted horizontally or vertically. Amongst the two types, the most used bar chart type is the vertical bar chart. Further, the vertical and horizontal bar charts are classified as:

• Vertical (or Horizontal) Grouped Bar Charts: The grouped bar chart is also referred the clustered bar chart (graph). It represents the discrete value for two or more categorical data. In this, horizontal (or vertical) bars are grouped by position. For example, if the bar chart is representing 3 groups with many variables (one group with 4 data values) then each value will be represented by different colors. The color coding for each group will be the same for similar data values.
• Vertical (or Horizontal) Stacked Bar Charts: The stacked bar chart is also known as the composite bar chart. It shows the division of the whole bar chart into different parts. To easily identify the category we use different colors bars and specific labeling. Thus, in a stacked bar chart one rectangular bar represents the whole parameter. In one bar we show multiple segments with different colors. Each segment in the bar shows the different parts of that respective label. It can be drawn vertically or horizontally.

Look at the image given below showing different types of bar charts.

Few properties are listed below that shows how bar charts are unique and different from other types of graphs:

• The rectangular bars in a bar chart can be drawn horizontally or vertically.
• In a bar chart, horizontal (or vertical) rectangular bars should have equal width and space between them.
• The height of the rectangular bars in a bar chart is equivalent to the given data it represents.
• The bar chart has two axes, the x-axis, and the y-axis.
• The bar chart has labels on axes, the title of a bar chart, the scale, and the name of the axes.

A bar chart is mostly used to represent the data in statistics formation. Some of the uses of the bar chart are listed below:

• The bar charts are used to show the comparisons between different variables. It is very easy and convenient to visualize the parameters in a pictorial form.
• The bar charts are the easiest method to show the heavy data and 9is time-saving.
• Most widely used method of data representation. Therefore, it is used by various industries.
• It helps in studying patterns over long periods of time.

Related Articles on Bar Chart

Check out these interesting articles to know more about the bar charts.

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• Line Graphs
• Stem and Leaf Plot
• Pie Charts
• Bar Graphs

What Is a Bar Chart in Statistics?

In statistics, a bar chart (or bar graph) is a pictorial representation of data in quantities. It is the most common statistical approach used for data categorization. The data is represented using vertical or horizontal bars that are plotted in accordance with the given value. The length of each rectangular bar horizontal (or vertical) is equivalent to the data that it represents.

Where Do We Use Bar Chart?

Bar Chart is used in mathematics, accounting, economics, and statistics. A bar chart makes comparisons between different variables easily and conveniently and helps in analyzing patterns over long periods of time.

What are the Similarities Between Bar Charts and Histograms?

The similarities between bar charts and histograms are that they both have two axes (an x-axis and a y-axis). Both use vertical/horizontal rectangular shape bars to display data. In both cases, the height of the bars is according to the relative frequency of the numbers of data given in the element.

What are the Types of Bar Chart?

There are two types of bar charts: vertical bar chart and horizontal bar chart. Further, the two types are classified as, horizontal/vertical stacked bar chart, and horizontal/vertical grouped bar chart.

• Vertical Bar Chart: It represents the grouped data vertically.
• Horizontal Bar Chart: It represents the grouped data horizontally.
• Horizontal/vertical Stacked Bar Chart: Each bar in the chart is a whole, and segments in the respective bar are the different parts of that whole.
• Horizontal/vertical Grouped Bar Chart: It allows to compare categories with the same level and use the same colors to compare the groups within them.

What is Stacked Bar Chart?

A stacked bar chart uses rectangular bars to display comparisons. It shows the difference between categories of data. Each rectangular bar in the graph represents a whole. The minor segments of the bar represent different parts of that whole.

What Are the Labels of a Bar Chart?

Labels of the bar charts are listed below:

• The horizontal axis (x-axis)
• The vertical axis (y-axis)
• Title of the bar chart
• Title of the Horizontal axis
• Title of the Vertical axis
• Label the categories on the horizontal axis to show what each bar stands for
• Scale range on the vertical axis to show the number of each category

What are the Properties of Bar Chart?

Properties of the bar charts are as follows:

• The bars can be drawn horizontally as well as vertically as per your needs.
• All bars must be of equal breadth (or width) with equal spacing.
• The height of the bar is proportional to the data they represent.
• All bars of bar charts must share a common base.

How Bar Charts are Useful in Real Life?

In Business, people use bar charts to present important information, such as sales information, to clients as well as to employees. People can also use bar charts for personal reasons, such as keeping track of finances, monthly expenses, groceries, etc.

What is the Difference Between Bar Chart and Line Chart?

A line chart is a graph or chart that is used to show information when a series of data is connected by a line whereas a bar chart is a particular way of representing data using rectangular bars where the height of each bar is proportional to the value they show in data. Bar charts tell us the relationships more precisely between the given data of different categories whereas line charts plot too many lines over the chart.

What is the Difference Between Bar Charts and Histograms?

The difference between histograms and bar charts is that bars in a bar chart are not adjacent to each other. Whereas, in a histogram two consecutive bars are adjacent. In a bar chart, it is necessary to provide equal spacing between the two bars whereas in a histogram bars are attached to each other and the X-axis shows the continuous data in terms of numbers.

What is the Difference Between Bar Chart and Pie Chart?

The bar chart shows discrete data while comparing one data point vs. another, whereas the pie chart is the type of chart (graph) in which a circle (360 degrees) is divided into parts and each part is a fraction of the whole.