What is line chart? What is trend line

A **line chart** is a type of data visualization that displays information as a series of data points called 'markers' connected by straight line segments. It is commonly used to show trends over time by plotting data points along a horizontal axis (typically representing time) and a vertical axis (representing the quantity or value of the data being measured). Line charts are particularly useful for illustrating changes and trends in continuous data, making it easy to see patterns, differences, and trends at a glance. ### Key Features of Line Charts: - **Axes**: Typically, the x-axis represents time or categories, while the y-axis represents the values being measured. - **Data Points**: Each point on the chart corresponds to a data value at a specific time or category. - **Lines**: The points are connected by lines, which helps to visualize the relationship between them. ### Example Usage: - Stock prices over time - Monthly sales figures - Temperature changes over a year A **trend line** is a straight or curved line that is fitted to a dataset to express the overall direction or trend of the data points over time. It can be used to summarize the data and make predictions about future points based on the established trend. Trend lines can be linear or nonlinear, depending on the data's characteristics. ### Key Features of Trend Lines: - **Direction**: Trend lines can slope upwards (indicating an increase), downwards (indicating a decrease), or remain flat (indicating stability). - **Smoothing**: Trend lines can help smooth out short-term fluctuations in the data, making longer-term trends easier to observe. - **Prediction**: By extending a trend line beyond the existing data points, it can be used to estimate future values. ### Example Usage: - Determining the growth pattern of a business's revenue - Forecasting future sales based on past performance - Identifying seasonal trends in marketing data In summary, line charts are a visual representation of data trends over time, while trend lines are analytical tools used to summarize and predict data behavior.