Trends over time are often shown with line or area charts. But when composition matters as much as magnitude, Stream Graphs provide clarity.
A Stream Graph is a stacked area chart with flowing layers around a central axis. It shows how categories change over time, highlighting both relative size and variation.
When to Use Stream Graphs
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Tracking category contributions over time (e.g., lead sources, support volumes)
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Identifying seasonal or cyclical patterns across dimensions
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Visualizing data where relative and absolute trends both matter
Use Case: Lead Volume by Marketing Channel
We compared five marketing channels over time. The Stream Graph revealed:
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How total lead volume evolved
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When specific channels, such as Social Media, surged
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Not just values, but shifts in rhythm and contribution
Comparison: Stream vs. Line Chart
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Line charts overlap, flattening the view
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No visibility into stacked dominance or share shifts
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Harder to interpret composition changes
Why Stream Graphs Work
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Visual hierarchy highlights dominant contributors
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Layered movement shows transitions over time
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Combines composition and trend in one frame
At Perceptive Analytics our mission is “to enable businesses to unlock value in data.” For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with more than 100 clients—from Fortune 500 companies to mid-sized firms—to solve complex data analytics challenges. Our services include Advanced Analytics, Generative AI, and Business Intelligence (Tableau, Power BI and Looker) turning data into strategic insight. We would love to talk to you. Do reach out to us.
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