Chart vs. Table: Which One to Use and When?

Imagine trying to mow your lawn with a pair of scissors. Sure, you would eventually get it done, but is it really the best tool for the job? The more complex the job you’re tackling, the more expensive it is to use the wrong tools. When you do data visualization, choosing the right visualization type makes all the difference.

Today, we talk about charts vs. tables. Both are commonly used elements for visualizing data but they’re not interchangeable. Making the wrong choice will be like mowing a lawn with scissors: long, painful and the end result will look dreadful.

What are charts?

Charts or graphs are visual representations of data that make it easier to understand complex information. When a dataset is converted into a chart such as a line graph or a bar graph, the reader can more easily interpret the data, find patterns and outliers, discover relationships and in general, understand the meaning behind the data presentation.

Different types of charts are used to present data in various use cases, such as data analysis, finance, education, science and many others.

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An example of a line chart

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Some of the most common chart types include:

• Bar chart
• Line chart
• Pie chart
• Histogram
• Scatter plot
• Area chart
• Bubble chart
• Radar chart
• Heat map
• Gantt chart

What are tables?

A table is a set of data points organized in rows and columns for an easier overview. Tables are used in and outside data analytics to show complex data with exact values in a way that is easy to compare.

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Tables are present in apps such as Excel, on websites, in apps and various other places where it’s necessary to show large amounts of data at once. Most tables look the same and have the same use case (except for maybe pivot tables), unlike charts that have numerous variations for different use cases.

Of the two visual representations of data, tables are more difficult to read at a glance. While they contain precise values and percentages, that data does not tell a story. It is up to the reader to interpret the numerical data, find patterns, and draw conclusions on their own.

When should you use charts?

Charts are incredibly versatile and you should choose them based on who is reading and what your intention is. These are some of the main use cases for charts:

• For highlighting trends: showing changes and trends over time
• Comparing data: to compare different categories or groups with bar charts or column charts
• Visualizing proportions: to show parts of a whole with chart types such as pie charts and stacked bar charts
• Identifying relationships: to determine correlations and relationships between variables with visualizations such as scatter plots and bubble charts
• Simplifying complex data: when working with large data sets, understanding data from tables is nearly impossible, and this is where various types of graphs come in
• Engaging your target audience: when staring at a data table would lull your reader to sleep, a chart is the better choice to show the same sets of data in a more interesting way

When should you use tables?

While they are not as versatile as charts, tables have their own use cases where they are clearly the better of the two choices. 

This is when you should use tables:

• Showing precise data: in use cases such as financial reports, where detailed numerical data needs to be examined, with each number and decimal
• Presenting multiple variables: when showing data with multiple variables side by side for an easy comparison
• For data lookup: when the end-user needs to find a specific data point, tables are the superior choice
• Displaying non-numerical data: for showing a combination of numerical values and words
• When data doesn’t fit well into a chart: for those cases where the data is irregular and it’s hard to make out the relationships between data points

Charts vs. tables - which one is better?

There is no right answer: it depends on the data type you’re working with and the intended audience. Before choosing between charts vs tables, ask yourself: 

Who should read this? What will they do with this data?

Once you have answers to these questions, you’ll know the exact way to visualize your data.

However, do not forget that there is always the third option: using both charts and tables. 

For example, you can use a bar chart that shows the most sold products in a store. You can then filter here to find the best-selling product. Below that, you could review all the transactions for that product in a table. You can have the best of both worlds in one dashboard.

To sum things up, charts are better when you want to communicate insights quickly and engage your audience. Tables are better when you need a focus on precision and detail and the ability to show multiple variables of data in one place.

Visualize data in your software with Luzmo

If you want to present data in your software, using only tables is out of the question. Your end-users need to understand the data and make decisions quickly, and tables just won’t cut it for this use case. This leaves us with charts.

But how do you choose the right one? With Luzmo AI, you give us the raw data and we take care of the rest. Based on the type of data you have and the end goal you have, we’ll suggest the best way to present your data for the most impact.

Want to find out how to embed Luzmo in your software and show dashboards to your end users? Book a free demo with us to learn more!