# Choosing A Form

| Task                  | Prefer                            | Avoid                                   |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Compare categories    | sorted bar chart                  | pie with many slices                    |
| Show change over time | line chart                        | disconnected bars for dense time series |
| Show ranking          | horizontal bar chart              | unsorted columns                        |
| Show distribution     | histogram, box plot, violin plot  | averages without spread                 |
| Show relationship     | scatter plot                      | dual-axis line chart                    |
| Show part-to-whole    | stacked bar for few parts         | nested donuts                           |
| Show geography        | choropleth or symbol map          | map when location is irrelevant         |
| Monitor status        | compact dashboard with thresholds | decorative KPI cards                    |

Prefer the chart that makes the comparison visible without interaction. Add
interaction only when it reveals detail, filters clutter, or supports a real
workflow.
