Bar diagram
Also called: Columnar diagram, Bar graph · Topic: Graphical Representation of Data and Thematic Maps · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Graphical Representation of Data"; Class 12, Ch 4 "Spatial Information Technology"
Meaning
A bar diagram, also called a columnar diagram, is made of bars of equal width placed at equal distances apart. The length of each bar matches its value, so a longer bar means a bigger value. Bars are shaded or coloured so they can be told apart. It suits data such as rainfall or production. There are three main kinds. A simple bar diagram has one bar per item. A multiple bar diagram has bars side by side for several variables. A compound bar diagram splits one bar into its parts.
Example
NCERT draws the monthly rainfall of Thiruvananthapuram, on the Kerala coast, as a bar diagram. The tallest bar is June, at 35.6 cm, when the south-west monsoon arrives.
Don't confuse with
- Histogram: a bar diagram has gaps between its bars because it shows separate categories. A histogram's bars touch because it shows continuous classes of values.