Data visualization tools are software or applications which facilitate users to create graphical representations of data to understand, analyze, and communicate information. These tools transform raw data into visual formats like charts, graphs, maps, and interactive dashboards. Data visualization tools are essential for data-driven decision-making, as they make complex data more accessible and interpretable.
Popular data visualization tools include:
- Tableau: A powerful data visualization and business intelligence tool known for its ease of use and rich interactive features.
- Microsoft Power BI: A business analytics tool that integrates with various Microsoft products, offering advanced visualization and data analysis capabilities.
- QlikView/Qlik Sense: Business intelligence and data visualization tools known for their associative data modeling and dashboard creation.
- Google Data Studio: A free tool for creating interactive dashboards as well as reports using data from various sources, such as Google Analytics and Google Sheets.
- D3.js: A JavaScript library for creating custom, data-driven visualizations using HTML, SVG, and CSS.
- Plotly: A Python and JavaScript library for creating interactive, web-based visualizations.
- Excel: Microsoft Excel offers basic data visualization capabilities with built-in charting tools.
- Tableau Public: A free version of Tableau for creating and sharing data visualizations online.
- Grafana: An open-source platform for creating and sharing interactive dashboards and visualizing time-series data.
- Apache Superset: An open-source data exploration and visualization platform that supports various data sources.
List of recommended resources #
For a broad overview #
A Complete Overview of the Best Data Visualization Tools
This blog post by Toptal gives a broad overview of the best data visualization tools along with pros and cons of the popularly used tools.
Top Data Visualization Tools for Business Professionals
This insight article by Tim Stobierski for Harvard Business School Online gives a brief overview of the top data visualization tools used by business professionals. Some notable tools include Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and Datawrapper.
Video: Top 10 Data Visualization Tools in 2023 | Best Tools for Data Visualization | Edureka Rewind
This YouTube video by edureka! gives an overview of the most commonly used data visualization tools in the current market along with an introduction to data visualization.
For in depth understanding #
This hands-on guide by Michael Alexander and Dick Kusleika gives an in-depth study of the latest and most useful features of Microsoft Excel 365, one of the most commonly used data visualization tools.
Tableau Your Data!: Fast and Easy Visual Analysis with Tableau Software
Daniel G. Murray, in his book, provides a comprehensive guide to using Tableau for data visualization and analytics. Murray gives step-by-step guidance towards the best practices and techniques for this easily accessible data visualization tool.
Case study #
Mobile Phones and Water Point Mapping
This paper by Joy Kazadi and Elizabeth Kleemeier studies various applications which can study information regarding water points. The data collected can then be analyzed and visualized through softwares such as Tableau or SPSS.
This paper presents the Upstream Tariff Simulator, a simple Microsoft Excel–based tool designed to help policy makers answer questions pertaining to tariff reform.
References #
10 Best Data Visualization Tools and Techniques
