Distribution · Chart 9 of 11
Heatmap
A grid where colour intensity encodes the value.
Live exampleSample data
Use it when
- Two categories crossed (day × hour, region × product)
- Spotting hot and cold zones fast
- Dense data in a small space
Avoid it when
- When exact numbers matter (colour is approximate)
- Colourblind-unsafe palettes
Common mistakes
- 1Red-green scales that exclude colourblind viewers
- 2No legend for what the colour means
In business
Sales by day-and-hour, activity by region, cohort retention.