Charts / Glossary
Area
A chart word, with the charts that use it.
Definition
An area is the filled space under a line, read for volume over time. The fill makes the amount visible, not only the direction, so an area chart suits balances, prices and volumes.
Updated Nov 2, 2026
- 01The lineThe value at each point, joined left to right.
- 02The areaThe fill under the line, read as the amount.
Where you see it
011 · AreaChange over time · Crypto data
013 · Overlapping areasChange over time · Crypto data
014 · StreamgraphChange over time · Logistics data
Common mistakes
Several areas on top of each other
Solid fills hide the series behind them. Use see-through fills, or lines.
An area for a rate
A fill reads as an amount. For a rate or a latency, a plain line says it better.
Questions
When is an area better than a line?
When the amount matters, not only the direction: a balance, a price, a volume.
Does an area have to start at zero?
For amounts, yes. For prices it can fit the range, as long as the axis shows where it starts.
Related terms
- Time series
- Stacked
- Series
- Axis
Every chart word, A to Z.
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