Small multiples

Small multiples are a set of similar charts that repeat a shared design across subsets of data, making comparisons possible across panels.

Data visualization: The graphical representation of data to communicate patterns, comparisons, and relationships. Small multiples are a design technique within this broader practice.
Trellis display: A display of conditioned plots arranged in a regular grid, with each plot showing a subset of data. Trellis displays formalized the repeated-panel approach for multivariate data.
Seasonal subseries plot: A time-series chart that separates seasonal cycles into aligned segments for comparing values within each season. It uses repeated aligned views to reveal seasonal variation across years.
Edward Tufte: An American statistician and writer known for influential books on information design and data visualization. Tufte popularized the name and advocated repeated charts for visual comparison.
Faceting (data visualization): A method that divides data into subsets and displays each subset in a separate panel. Faceting is the common plotting operation used to construct small multiples.
Brushing and linking: An interaction technique that highlights selected data in one view and corresponding data in other views. Linking selections across panels can expose relationships hidden by static repetition.
Choropleth map: A map that encodes geographic regions with colors or shades representing measured values. Repeated choropleth maps compare how geographic patterns change across categories or dates.
William Cleveland: An American statistician whose work advanced graphical methods for data analysis. Cleveland’s research helped establish rigorous principles for comparing graphical displays.
Visual encoding: The mapping of data attributes to visual properties such as position, color, size, and shape. Each panel repeats visual encodings so corresponding marks can be compared.
Small multiples of maps: A set of maps with a common design, each depicting a different time, place, or category. Repeated maps apply the method to spatial comparisons.

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