Line and area charts show trends across ordered values, most often dates or times.
When to use line charts
Use line charts for:
- Daily active users
- Monthly recurring revenue
- Conversion rates over time
- Average response time
- Cumulative totals
Area fill
Area fill emphasizes volume under a trend line. It is useful for totals, counts, and cumulative values.
Cumulative mode
Cumulative line charts show running totals. Use them for progress toward a goal, running revenue, or cumulative signups.
SQL shape
select
date(created_at) as day,
count(*) as signups
from users
group by 1
order by 1select
date(created_at) as day,
count(*) as signups
from users
group by 1
order by 1Tips
- Always sort time-series queries by date.
- Use area fill sparingly when multiple series overlap.
- Use points when individual observations matter.
- Use line charts instead of bars for dense time series.