The Basics of Bar Graph

Bar graphs provide a visual presentation of the data in either horizontal or vertical bars. The bar graphs are one of the best ways to communicate the information as it gives a pictorial representation of data that is easy to understand. 

The overall process of collection, presentation, analysis, organisation, and interpretation of a large amount of data falls under statistics. When presented in the form of bars, this data is known as a bar graph. The vertical or horizontal bars are represented with equal spacing and uniform size on the horizontal axis. Hence, it helps compare two or more categories.

Types of the Bar Graph 

The bars consist of two-axis where one axis is assigned with a numerical value and the other consists of the type of category being compared. Based on the numerical value, the categories represent the varying length of the bars on the graph. Hence, the following are the components of the bar graph.

• Horizontal bar chart – The bars are placed equally in space but horizontally. Hence, the longer the bar length, the larger is the numerical value or percentage of the category. The size of each bar or rectangular strip is equal to the value. All the horizontal bars go left to right on the coordinate axes. One of the horizontal bar graph examples is comparing the amount of rainfall in a year. 
• Vertical bar chart – In this, the bars are placed in a vertical direction, hence comparing the presentation by using columns. The vertical bar charts can be used in both upward and downward trends. The upward movement represents the positive value, and the downward direction presents the negative value. All the bars go up from the bottom on the coordinate axes. 
• Stacked bar graph – It is a clustered and composite form of the bar chart. Each part is presented using different colours, making it easy to identify different categories. The bars are represented by various labelling, and each bar shows either the whole or part of a segment. 
• Grouped bar graph – It is also called a clustered graph and provides the discrete value for more than one object present within the same category. Hence, it consists of many instances shown through a single bar. 
• Double bar graph – It helps in representing grouped data in graphical form. Hence, it helps present and compare data, where two bars are drawn for each category. Here, two bars are plotted for each item or category concerning the y-axis.

Attributes and Properties of the Bar Graph 

Here are the fundamental characteristics of the bar graph:

• The bar diagram helps in easily comparing data sets and different groups.
• The bar graph helps in showing the relationship between the two-axis. On one axis, it consists of the discrete value, and on the other, it consists of the categories of the data.
• The bar charts help in showing significant changes in data over time.

The properties of a bar graph include:

• Bar graphs are presented either horizontally or vertically. The width of the bar in the chart is equally spaced and uniform.
• The bar consists of multiple components: title, label, and scale. The length of each bar in the graph corresponds to the data value.

Uses of the Bar Graphs 

• Most of the bar graph is used in comparing the groups of data or classes. Hence, it helps measure the change over time and in comparative and statistical analysis of the large volume of data.
• The double bar graphs help provide information on two or more parameters within the same category. Hence, it helps in providing the necessary information by making the comparison.
• It helps in comparing data and giving a summary of the whole representation. Thus, the horizontal axis shows the category, whereas the vertical axis presents the value per category.
• The bar graph helps in providing information on the time-based data collection. Hence, it includes time input in the form of year, month, and day which are put along the x-axis, whereas the corresponding sub-category is the supporting data along the y-axis.
• It is used in defining and providing information on the mean, median, and modal classes for data. So, the bar graph is crucial for comparing data sets and making it easy to understand for the audience.

Conclusion 

Many bar graph examples help in providing information by making a comparative analysis between two categories. The bars are either horizontal or vertical, uniform in size and space. The bar graph examples like change in the population, GDP increase etc., are used for summarising the large set of data in visual form. Hence, it helps in clarifying the trend and estimating the fundamental values. In the bar graph, the information or data is presented in rectangular bars and gives insight into significant data frequency. It is presented along the x and y-axis, showing the relation between the two.