How to Make the Most of Your Chart’s Header

The importance of a header

Data visualization is an excellent tool for making sense of complex data. However, that is not the case with all visualizations. Some, if done poorly, might even cause confusion. To avoid confusion, you should prepare a good context, and one of the best ways to do so is through the "Header."

A good header:

1. Provides Context
2. Helps Viewers Focus
3. Enhances Readability
4. Improves Accessibility
   

What is a header

A header is the title of a chart. It is usually located at the top of the visualization and briefly describes what the chart is showing. Visualization relies heavily on headers since they help viewers understand what the data represents and how it relates to the message.

Now that you understand the nature and importance of a "Header," let's see how you can apply and customize one in the PlotSet panel.

Let's apply header

In the Plotset panel, there is a specific place (in most charts) for the header. It consists of 5 different customization items:

Alignment

Here, you decide where to place the title, on the right, in the middle, or on the left. This option is mainly related to your preferences and plot design.

Title

As the primary part of the header, the title is the heart and soul of our chart. It helps you convey your message and let your viewer makes sense of the data faster. 

Once you've written the title, you can customize it. Choose a font that you like, and it's easy on the eyes. Then, customize its size and color. 

It would be great if you consider people with disabilities or impairments while customizing. Read the following blog if you need more information: Breaking Barriers: Making Data Visualizations Accessible and Inclusive

Subtitle

A subtitle is where you can add one to two sentences for more information on the subject. Better to keep it short and concise. Adding way too much information here may lead to an overcrowded header, which is not ideal. The same customization process as the title goes for the subtitle as well.

Text and border

Some visualizations are complex, which means they require more explanation. In that case, you can use the "Text" option and add your text to this section. If you feel it's a bit crowded, you can separate the header section from the rest of your plot. These two options are also fully customizable!

That's all you need to know about the header. Don't forget to keep your info short and sweet. After all, the header draws a lot of attention.

Read the blog How to Use Legends Efficiently to review our legend option.

Have fun charting with PlotSet!