Warming Stripes

Key points

Warming stripes are a simple type of data visualization that show long-term change. They look like a series of colored vertical bars placed side-by-side. Each bar represents a unit of time, and the color shows if that value was more or less than a long-term average.
Example warming stripe data visualization

Best Practices

A Warming Stripe visualization is a great way to quickly show high level trend data. Warming Stripes use color as the primary way to show changes above or below a long term average. This makes it very quick for a user to identify patterns in the data. They can show this information without taking up much space. Consider using them to introduce high level trends.

Because they are good at quickly showing trends, they can be limited in the detail they show about data. Consider other visualizations if these details are important.

Use:

  • When you need quick comprehension of trend data.
  • When space is limited.
  • When users may be overwhelmed by a complex data visualization.

Don't Use:

  • When you need to show precise data values.
  • When you need to directly compare different groups.
  • If the details and breakdowns of the data are important.

Quick Build Notes

  1. Select "Warming Stripes" as the Visualization Type.
  2. Upload your data.
  3. Select Warming Stripes in the General tab.
  4. In the Data Series panel, use the Add Data Series dropdown to select the columns from your data that represent the values to display. Each selected column will display as an individual Warming Stripe.
  5. In the Date/Category Axis panel, use the Data Key dropdown to select a column from your data that represents the date or category information for the chart.
  6. Select the Data Scaling Type appropriate to your Data.

Configuration Options

The example visualization below highlights options available for Deviation Bar charts. Key configuration selections are in the build notes section under the example.

For in-depth configuration information visit the Configuration Page.

Example Warming Stripes

Data Format

  • Vertical
  • Multiple Series: Yes

General

  • Chart Subtype: Warming Stripes
  • Title Style: Small (H3)
  • Show Title: Checked

Data Series

Data Series: Austin, New York, San Francisco

Date/Category Axis

  • Data Scaling Type: Categorical (Linear Scale)
  • Data Key: Date
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