--- title: "What Is Data Visualization? Types & Best Practices | OWOX" canonical: "https://www.owox.com/glossary/data-visualization" updated: "2025-03-20" --- # What Is Data Visualization? Data visualization is the graphical representation of data using charts, graphs, and maps to make complex information easier to understand. **3 min** read · Updated March 20, 2025 · [Data Analytics](/blog/topics/data-analytics) Data visualization simplifies large volumes of data by converting it into visual formats like infographics, animations, and plots. This method helps organizations and individuals quickly identify trends, patterns, and insights. It is not only valuable for data teams but is also used by management to showcase organizational structures or hierarchy.  Data analysts and scientists rely on visualization to discover insights and communicate data-driven findings effectively. As Harvard Business Review notes, the purposes of data visualization include idea generation, idea illustration, visual discovery, and everyday use in decision-making. ## **Key Benefits of Data Visualization** Data visualization offers several advantages across various fields, such as public policy, finance, marketing, and more: * **Storytelling**: Colors and patterns help convey the narrative within the data. * **Accessibility**: Data is presented in a simple, understandable format for diverse audiences. * **Visualize Relationships**: Graphs and charts make it easier to identify patterns and connections in data. * **Exploration**: Accessible data fosters collaboration and enables informed decision-making. ## **Different Types of Data Visualization** Data visualization has evolved over time, with various types now used for different purposes. Common types include: * **Tables**: Rows and columns to compare variables, useful but can overwhelm for high-level trends. * **Pie Charts & Stacked Bar Charts**: Show parts of a whole, useful for simple comparisons. * **Line & Area Charts**: Display changes over time, common in predictive analytics. * **Histograms**: Show distribution and help identify outliers. * **Scatter Plots**: Reveal relationships between two variables. * **Heat Maps**: Visualize behavioral data by location. * **Tree Maps**: Display hierarchical data with nested rectangles for category comparisons. ## The Turning Point OWOX Data Marts See your first report built in real time. _15 minutes._ 1. Connect your data warehouse 2. Pick your metrics 3. Get a live Google Sheets report In the time it takes to write a ticket. Then imagine never writing that ticket again. [Book a Demo](/book-a-call) We'll use your actual use case ## **Key Steps in the Data Visualization Process** To create effective data visualizations, follow these five steps: * **Define the Goal**: Identify questions your dataset can answer to determine the type of data, analysis, and visuals needed. * **Collect the Data**: Gather data from internal and external sources, such as sales volumes or marketing campaign results. * **Clean the Data**: Remove redundant data and perform operations to filter and refine data according to your goals. * **Select the Data Visuals**: Choose the appropriate chart type (e.g., bar graph, pie chart) based on relationships and insights. * **Create the Data Visuals**: Use tools to design visuals with proper context, attention to details, and clear labels to convey insights effectively. ## **Real-world Examples of Data Visualization** Data visualization is widely used in various fields to interpret complex data. Here are some real-world examples: * **Data Science**: Researchers use programming tools like Python or R to identify patterns in datasets with visuals such as plots, lines, and shapes. * **Marketing**: Web traffic and social media analytics are visualized to analyze customer behavior and trends. * **Finance**: Line graphs track the movement of prices over time, helping investors make informed decisions about stocks, bonds, and other commodities. * **Health Policy**: Choropleth maps visualize health data like cancer mortality rates across different geographical areas. ## **Discover More about Data Visualization** [Data visualization](https://www.owox.com/blog/articles/data-visualization/) is transforming how we interact with data, providing powerful insights in a visual format that’s easy to grasp. From real-time dashboards to interactive graphics, the evolution of data visualization tools is shaping industries by simplifying complex data. Whether you’re in business, healthcare, or education, using the right visualization techniques helps uncover trends, patterns, and relationships hidden in vast amounts of information. ## **Streamline Data Visualization with OWOX Data Marts** Great visuals rely on great data, yet inconsistent sources often break dashboards and slow decision-making. With [**OWOX Data Marts**](https://www.owox.com/app-signup), you can centralize and prepare governed datasets that integrate seamlessly with visualization tools like Looker Studio, Power BI, and Tableau. Every chart and graph reflects accurate, up-to-date metrics, empowering teams to explore data confidently and uncover real insights. ## Topics [Glossary](/glossary) [Data Analytics](/blog/topics/data-analytics) ## Related terms [Data Analytics Tools](/glossary/data-analytics-tools) [What Is Data Science? Definition & Use Cases](/glossary/data-science) [Data Model](/glossary/data-model) [What Is Data Value? How to Measure & Maximize It](/glossary/data-value) [A/B Testing](/glossary/a-b-testing) [AI-Powered Data Modeling](/glossary/ai-powered-data-modeling) ## Related articles ## Learn more about analytics [reporting · A Detailed List Of Marketing Dashboard Templates and Examples · Nov 4, 2024](/blog/articles/30-best-marketing-dashboard-examples-and-templates) [marketing analytics · Multichannel Digital Marketing Strategy: How to Merge Ad Channels to Allocate Your Budget · Sep 13, 2024](/blog/articles/how-merge-ad-channels-and-allocate-budget) [reporting · KPI Dashboards: Driving Growth with Data-Driven Decisions · Nov 24, 2023](/blog/articles/kpi-dashboards) ## Customer stories ## Learn how teams ship analytics faster Organizations that scaled analytics without scaling headcount [All case studies →](/blog/success-stories) [Pürblack · "For 10 years I was blind." The day Pürblack® founder stopped guessing · Seconds · to get reports across six channels · Read the story](/blog/success-stories/purblack) [Reformation · How OWOX Reports Helped Reformation Make Data-Backed Decisions · Minutes · from data request to business decision · Read the story](/blog/success-stories/reformation) [WorkSimpli · How OWOX Reports Streamlined Operations for WorkSimpli, Saving Over 10 Hours Weekly · 10hrs+ · saved per week on manual reporting · Read the story](/blog/success-stories/worksimpli) ## What users are saying ## Not testimonials. Comment threads. Real things real customers said — each quote pinned to a specific claim, straight from the quotes database. A3 · re: trusting AI ![Nodari Rizun](https://cdn.owox.ai/www/webflow/6a7b298b2ca5055443187566_nodari-headshot.png/public) Nodari Rizun · Founder & CEO, Pürblack® > _“AI, by the nature of the models, will hallucinate. And because of that, you need something which will create guardrails to ensure that there are no hallucinations, that you can trust your data.”_ C5 · re: opened eyes ![Nodari Rizun](https://cdn.owox.ai/www/webflow/6a7b298b2ca5055443187566_nodari-headshot.png/public) Nodari Rizun · Founder & CEO, Pürblack® > _“I was blind, now I can see. OWOX opened our eyes.”_ E9 · re: results and support PandaDoc · Analytics team > _“We are extremely satisfied with the results achieved through our partnership with OWOX. I'm also impressed by quick and effective support we get from OWOX”_ ## Your New Normal Turn your data into decisions. Governed data marts give you the clean foundation ML needs to actually work. * No AI hallucinations * Analyst-governed definitions * Every number traces to SQL [Get started free](https://www.owox.com/app-signup) ## Book a call You are booked. The invitation is on its way to , with the calendar invite and the meeting link. [Reschedule](#) [Cancel](#) ## Links Pages this page links to, on this site and on docs.owox.com. Where the page has a Markdown twin, its address follows the link. - [Data Analytics](https://www.owox.com/blog/topics/data-analytics) — /blog/topics/data-analytics.md - [Book a Demo](https://www.owox.com/book-a-call) — /book-a-call.md - [Data visualization](https://www.owox.com/blog/articles/data-visualization) — /blog/articles/data-visualization.md - [OWOX Data Marts](https://www.owox.com/app-signup) - [Glossary](https://www.owox.com/glossary) — /glossary.md - [Data Analytics Tools](https://www.owox.com/glossary/data-analytics-tools) — /glossary/data-analytics-tools.md - [What Is Data Science? Definition & Use Cases](https://www.owox.com/glossary/data-science) — /glossary/data-science.md - [Data Model](https://www.owox.com/glossary/data-model) — /glossary/data-model.md - [What Is Data Value? How to Measure & Maximize It](https://www.owox.com/glossary/data-value) — /glossary/data-value.md - [A/B Testing](https://www.owox.com/glossary/a-b-testing) — /glossary/a-b-testing.md - [AI-Powered Data Modeling](https://www.owox.com/glossary/ai-powered-data-modeling) — /glossary/ai-powered-data-modeling.md - [reporting · A Detailed List Of Marketing Dashboard Templates and Examples · Nov 4, 2024](https://www.owox.com/blog/articles/30-best-marketing-dashboard-examples-and-templates) — /blog/articles/30-best-marketing-dashboard-examples-and-templates.md - [marketing analytics · Multichannel Digital Marketing Strategy: How to Merge Ad Channels to Allocate…](https://www.owox.com/blog/articles/how-merge-ad-channels-and-allocate-budget) — /blog/articles/how-merge-ad-channels-and-allocate-budget.md - [reporting · KPI Dashboards: Driving Growth with Data-Driven Decisions · Nov 24, 2023](https://www.owox.com/blog/articles/kpi-dashboards) — /blog/articles/kpi-dashboards.md - [All case studies →](https://www.owox.com/blog/success-stories) — /blog/success-stories.md - [Pürblack · "For 10 years I was blind." The day Pürblack® founder stopped guessing · Seconds · to get…](https://www.owox.com/blog/success-stories/purblack) — /blog/success-stories/purblack.md - [Reformation · How OWOX Reports Helped Reformation Make Data-Backed Decisions · Minutes · from data…](https://www.owox.com/blog/success-stories/reformation) — /blog/success-stories/reformation.md - [WorkSimpli · How OWOX Reports Streamlined Operations for WorkSimpli, Saving Over 10 Hours Weekly ·…](https://www.owox.com/blog/success-stories/worksimpli) — /blog/success-stories/worksimpli.md