Tutorials – FlowingData

How to Read and Use Histograms in R

The chart type often goes overlooked because people don't understand them. Maybe this will help.

How to Map Geographic Paths in R

As people and things move through a place, it can be useful to see their connected paths instead of just individual points.

The Baseline and Working with Time Series in R

A big part of statistics is comparisons, and perhaps more importantly, to figure out what to compare things to. Perspective changes with the baseline.

How to Display Text in R

Text can provide much needed context to traditional visual cues and can be used as a visual cue itself in some cases.

Working with Line Maps, the Google Places API, and R

A frequent challenge of visualization is behind the scenes, to get the data and to mold it into the format you need. Do that. Then map.

How to Make a Connected Scatter Plot

The combination of a time series chart and a scatter plot lets you compare two variables along with temporal changes.

Small Maps and Grids

Maybe you want to make spatial comparisons over time or across categories. Organized small maps might do the trick.

How to Make Slopegraphs in R

Also known as specialized or custom line charts. Figure out how to draw lines with the right spacing and pointed in the right direction, and you've got your slopegraphs.

Small Multiples in R

Make a lot of charts at once, line them up in a grid, and you can make quick comparisons across several categories.

How to Make an Animated Growth Map in R

Although time series plots and small multiples can go a long way, animation can make your data feel more real and relatable. Here is how to do it in R via the animated GIF route.

Using Transparency in R to Improve Clarity

When you plot a lot of data at once, points and lines can obscure others and hide patterns. Transparency can help reveal what is really there.

How to Animate Transitions Between Multiple Charts

Animated transitioning between chart types can add depth to your data display. Find out how to achieve this effect using JavaScript and D3.js.

Getting Started with Charts in R

You get a lot of bang for the buck with R, charting-wise, but it can be confusing at first, especially if you've never written code. Here are some examples to get started.

How to Make an Interactive Choropleth Map

When presented with a static graphic, it can be useful to see specific values after you see overall patterns. This tutorial shows you how to add simple interactions to a choropleth map so you can get specifics for regions.

More on Making Heat Maps in R

You saw how to make basic heat maps a while back, but you might want more flexibility for a specific data set. Once you understand the components of a heat map, the rest is straightforward.

Mapping with Diffusion-based Cartograms

Sometimes these cartograms can distort areas beyond recognition, but they can also provide a better visual representation for a region with a wide range of subregions. At the least, they're fun to look at.

How to Make an Interactive Network Visualization

Interactive network visualizations make it easy to rearrange, filter, and explore your connected data. Learn how to make one using D3 and JavaScript.

How to Make Stacked Area Charts in R

From the basic area chart, to the stacked version, to the streamgraph, the geometry is similar. Once you know how to do one, you can do them all.