Charts / Glossary
Ranking
A chart word, with the charts that use it.
Definition
A ranking is order by value; a bump chart follows how the order changes. It tells you who leads, not by how much.
Updated Nov 2, 2026
- 01The rankEach row is one place, first at the top.
- 02A swapWhere two lines cross, two items changed places.
Where you see it
045 · BumpCompare items · Crypto data
007 · Horizontal barsCompare items · Logistics data
Common mistakes
A ranking that hides the gap
Rank 1 and 2 may be far apart. Show the values when the gap matters.
Ties broken by chance
Break them by a rule, such as the value behind the rank or the name.
Questions
Bump chart or bars?
Bars for one ranking now, a bump chart for how the order changes over time.
How many items can a ranking show?
Five to ten lines in a bump chart, many more as sorted bars.
Related terms
- Category
- Series
- Time series
Every chart word, A to Z.
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