Chart types
Chart types overview
Every visualization type available in Lightdash and when to reach for each one
In Lightdash, the data in your results tables can be visualized in a bunch of different ways.
Custom is one entry in the chart type menu covering two kinds of chart. A Vega chart is a one-off spec written in a JSON editor and belongs to that chart alone. A custom chart type is reusable: you describe the chart you want, Lightdash builds it, and anyone in the project can then apply it like a built-in chart type.
The visualization type that you pick determines how Lightdash shows the data series in your chart. To change how your data is displayed, click Configure when you’re querying from a table. The Configure chart sidebar opens on the right. Click Change next to the current chart type to open the chart type gallery, then pick a card:
Bar chart
Use bar charts to compare things between different groups or track how a number changes over time
Line chart
Use line charts to show continuous changes in a number over time
Area chart
Use area charts to show how values develop over time when the total is as important as its parts
Mixed chart
Use mixed charts to combine bars, lines, and scatter charts on the same visualization
Scatter chart
Use scatter charts to look at the relationship or correlation between two variables
Pie chart
Use pie charts to visualize data that adds up to a meaningful whole
Funnel chart
Show how values fall away across the discrete stages of a process
Treemap chart
Use treemap charts to show parts of a whole using nested rectangles
Sankey chart
Visualize flows between categories, from sources through to targets
Table
Use tables for looking at tabular data or lists of things like user IDs or transactions
Big value
Use big value charts to display a single value prominently
Gauge
Highlight a single value against a qualitative range, like performance against a target
Map
Use maps to display geographic data on an interactive map
Custom Vega charts
One-off charts written as a Vega-Lite spec in a JSON editor, plus worked templates you can copy
Custom chart types
Reusable chart types you build once for your project, then use like any built-in chart type