Any graphical display of information. There are four basic types of charts: a bar chart, in which information is represented as bars (either vertical or horizontal) on an x-y coordinate system, the respective heights of which are in proportion to the values they represent. A pie chart represents fractional divisions of a whole as pieces of a circle, the size of each "slice" being in proportion to its percehtage of the whole. A scatter plot simply plots a number of points on an x-y coordinate system and is used occasionally to illustrate trends or groupings. A line graph is a type of scatter plot in which points are connected by lines to emphasize the progression of a particular trend. The usefulness of a line graph depends upon the linearity of the plotted data.
The above charts may also be referred to as graphs, especially when data is plotted in a coordinate system. Many spreadsheet, desktop publishing, or other programs automatically generate charts from raw data entered into them.
A type of chart unrelated to the above is called a flowchart. (See Flowchart.) Strictly tabular data is sometimes also referred to as a chart. (See Tabular Composition.)