# Chart Selection

> Choosing the right chart type for your data, chart anatomy, and common chart mistakes.

- Skill: `dragoon0x/chart-selection` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dragoon0x/chart-selection`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dragoon0x/chart-selection/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: dragoon0x (https://skillmd.com/u/dragoon0x)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dragoon0x/chart-selection

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# Chart Selection

## Choosing the Right Chart

| Data Relationship | Best Chart |
|-------------------|------------|
| Change over time | Line chart, area chart |
| Comparison | Bar chart (horizontal for many categories) |
| Part of whole | Pie/donut (max 5 slices), stacked bar |
| Distribution | Histogram, box plot |
| Correlation | Scatter plot |
| Geographic | Map (choropleth, point map) |
| Flow/process | Sankey diagram, funnel |
| Hierarchy | Treemap, sunburst |

## Chart Anatomy
- **Title:** States the insight, not the data ('Revenue grew 40% in Q3' not 'Revenue Q1-Q4')
- **Axes:** Labeled with units, starting at zero for bars (not for lines)
- **Legend:** Only when multiple series, positioned near the data
- **Gridlines:** Minimal, light gray, horizontal only
- **Annotations:** Call out key points directly on the chart

## Common Mistakes
1. Pie charts with more than 5 slices (unreadable)
2. 3D charts (distort perception)
3. Dual Y-axes (confusing, usually misleading)
4. Truncated Y-axis on bar charts (exaggerates differences)
5. Too many colors (use one hue with variations for most charts)
6. Missing context (what's the benchmark? trend? target?)