Histogram Chart

In this article, we will explain how to create and customize a histogram chart. So let's get started!

A histogram is a chart that visualizes a dataset's distribution by plotting the frequency of data values in bins or ranges. The x-axis represents the data values, and the y-axis represents the frequency of those data values.

To create a histogram chart from ungrouped or unbinned data, you will need to first group the data into bins or ranges. This tool will automatically group the data into bins based on the distribution of the data. Infinity automatically determines the number of bins to use and sets their widths to be equal. The height of each bin is proportional to the number of data points it contains.

Here is an example of a histogram chart with sample data:

This histogram shows the distribution of population among a group of 50 countries. The x-axis represents the population ranges, and the y-axis represents the frequency of countries in each population bin.

Sample data:

Country	Population (millions)	Area (sq miles)
China	1,439	9,596,961
India	1,380	3,287,263
United States	331	3,796,742
Indonesia	273	735,358
Brazil	212	3,288,470
Pakistan	220	310,403
Nigeria	206	356,669
Bangladesh	164	147,570
Russia	145	6,612,100
Mexico	128	761,606
Japan	126	145,936
Philippines	108	115,830
Vietnam	97	128,537
Egypt	98	386,660
Iran	84	636,000
Turkey	84	302,535
Democratic Republic of the Congo	87	905,567
Thailand	69	198,115
France	65	248,573
United Kingdom	67	93,628
Italy	60	116,303
South Africa	59	471,011
Myanmar	54	261,228
South Korea	52	38,491
Colombia	50	439,736
Spain	47	195,124
Argentina	45	1,068,302
Ukraine	43	233,062
Canada	38	3,855,103
Morocco	36	172,414
Iraq	40	168,754
Afghanistan	38	249,999
Peru	32	496,000
Saudi Arabia	34	830,000
Angola	32	481,000
Venezuela	28	352,144
Malaysia	32	127,000
Yemen	29	203,850
North Korea	25	46,528
Nepal	29	56,827
Sudan	41	967,490
Ghana	31	92,098
Mozambique	31	309,496
Australia	25	2,969,907
Taiwan	24	13,892
Ivory Coast	26	124,503
Madagascar	27	226,658
Cameroon	26	183,569
Romania	19	92,043
Syria	18	71,500

How-to build a histogram chart?

1. Navigate to Add New Chart screen

2. Select data source

3. Select "Histogram Chart" type from gallery

4. Configure and customize the chart to create the desired visualization.

Histogram chart configuration:

A histogram chart can display multiple series of data in a single chart. To create a one-series chart, you will need at least two columns of data. The first column represents the name of the dimension, and the second column represents the metric to be plotted on the chart.

1) This configuration demonstrates how to set up a one-series histogram chart by mapping the necessary data fields. The "Dimension" and "Metric" fields are required, and you can map multiple data series to the "Metric" field if desired.

2) To customize the appearance of an area chart, follow these steps:

1. Click on the "Customize" tab

2. Go to "Other" accordion to select the desired options

3. Select the desired customization options, such as bucket sizes, max and min buckets and algorithm for bucket computation and more

Hide Bucket Items : Removes the thin divisions between the blocks of the histogram to create a series of solid bars.

Bucket Size: Manually set the size of each histogram bar rather than allowing it to be calculated automatically.

Last Bucket Percentile: This feature allows you to specify a percentage of values to exclude from the calculation of bucket sizes. These values will still be included in the histogram, but will not affect the bucket sizes. This can be useful if you don't want outliers to create their own buckets and would prefer for them to be grouped with the first or last bucket instead.

Min Value (bucket): Limits the min range of buckets to include this value.

Max Value (bucket): Limits the max range of buckets to include this value.

Max Num of buckets: Limits the maximum number of buckets to this value

Bucketing Algorithm: There are three algorithms that can be used to determine the default number of buckets for a histogram chart. These algorithms are:

• 'sqrt': This algorithm calculates the square root of the number of data points.

• 'sturges': This algorithm is based on the binomial distribution and assumes an approximately normal distribution of the data.

• 'rice': This is a simpler alternative to the 'sturges' algorithm."

These options allow you to tailor the appearance of the histogram chart to your specific needs and preferences. You can customize a variety of options to create a chart that effectively communicates your data and insights.

Histograms are often used to visualize the distribution of a dataset and to identify patterns and trends in the data. They can be particularly useful for understanding the shape of a dataset and for identifying outliers or anomalies in the data.

There are a few useful tips to keep in mind when using histograms:

1. Make sure to clearly label the chart and include a descriptive title.

2. Use a clear and readable font for the labels and axis ticks to make it easier for readers to understand the chart.

3. Choose an appropriate bin size for the data. If the bins are too small, the histogram may be too cluttered, while if the bins are too large, the histogram may not show enough detail.

4. Use colors and patterns effectively to differentiate between different data points and to make the chart more visually appealing.

Histograms are best suited for visualizing the distribution of continuous data. If you have categorical data, you may want to consider using a different type of chart, such as a bar chart.

Histogram chart customization options:

Infinity offers many customization options for your chart. To access these options, click on the customize tab in the chart builder screen. This will display a list of customization options.

Here is a list of additional customization options for the histogram chart.

Feature	Description
Aggregation	To create an aggregation, click on the data series chip in the data mapping section and choose the desired aggregation. There are various aggregation options available based on the data type.
Renaming the Data Series	To rename a data series, click on the data series chip in the data mapping section. A pop-up will appear, allowing you to change the name and any aggregation options.
Titles	To change the titles, follow these steps: Click on the customization tab. Click on the horizontal (or) vertical axes. Proceed to change the titles. You will also have the option to modify the font attributes.
Chart Background	To change the chart background, follow these steps: Click on the customization tab. Click on the chart background. Proceed to selecting the desired color.
Padding and Zoom	To change the padding and zoom, follow these steps: Click on the customization tab. Click on the padding and zoom accordion. Proceed to customize the padding and zoom attributes for your chart.
Legend	To customize the legend, follow these steps: Click on the customization tab. Click on the legend accordion. The platform offers four legend options: top, bottom, right, or none. You can also configure the legend font here.
Axes	To customize the axes, follow these steps: Click on the customize tab. Select the desired axes (horizontal for X, vertical for Y, and right vertical for secondary Y). Proceed to changing the title, fonts, labels, order of axes, scale, or even add formatting such as $ or %.
Gridlines	To change the grid lines, follow these steps: Click on the customize tab. Select the gridlines accordion. Select the orientation (i.e. vertical or horizontal). Update/customize the count and colors of the gridlines.