Charting data

Patterns
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  • Analyzing trends based on historical or predicted values

  • Visualizing the current state of a process, system, or quantity that changes over time

  • Evaluating different items — or the same item at different times — by comparing data across multiple categories

Best practices

Use a chart when you want to highlight important information about a dataset.

Keep a chart simple, letting people choose when they want additional details.

Make every chart in your app accessible.

Designing effective charts

In general, prefer using common chart types.

If you need to create a chart that presents data in a novel way, help people learn how to interpret the chart.

Examine the data from multiple levels or perspectives to find details you can display to enhance the chart.

Aid comprehension by adding descriptive text to the chart.

Match the size of a chart to its functionality, topic, and level of detail.

Prefer consistency across multiple charts, deviating only when you need to highlight differences.

Maintain continuity among multiple charts that use the same data.


For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/charting-data

Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc. This page is a structured index of Apple’s canonical documentation (snapshot 2025-02-02), provided for quick reference and AI-agent consumption — it isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Apple. Read the original at developer.apple.com (opens in new tab).

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