1.1 What is data visualization?

Data visualization is very common in your daily life. It appears in advertisement, newspaper, scientific journal, or any school book. Normally, people recognize it as charts and graphs.

Data visualization refers to techniques that illustrate insights from data. It delivers a quick and effective way to communicate information in a universal manner using visual information.

A good visualization provides meaningful insights into intuitive methods. The American statistician and Yale professor Edward Tufte believes that excellent data visualisations consist of 'complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision, and efficiency.'