By data visualization we mean the graphical version of information and data. Charts, graphs and maps give the viewer a way to look at and comprehend the trends and patterns present in the data.
Data visualization is one of the most methodical techniques for presenting a piece of data. It takes more than a large data bank: you also need a well-equipped tool. These are ten free and open-source options, and what each is actually good at.
Candela
A popular choice for an open-source tool. It runs on Kitware's Resonant platform and offers a wide range of visualization elements, letting you develop visualizations that are both scalable and accessible in a standardized API.
Charted
An automatic visualization tool built by Medium. It re-fetches data every 30 minutes, works with various file types, and suits improvised handling.
D3.js
An open-source JavaScript library, the strongest option for interactive visualization in the browser. It takes a data-driven approach to DOM handling and works on a series of selections.
Chart.js
An open-source charting library maintained by a community, working in JavaScript, which helps data scientists build visualizations quickly.
Leaflet
A JavaScript library for interactive mobile maps. Lightweight, flexible, works on desktop and mobile, and has a familiar API.
Datawrapper
Exceptionally mobile-friendly, and helps produce accurate, feasible charts in minutes. Available in both paid and free versions.
Dygraphs
An open-source, JavaScript-based charting library for dense data sets. It expects some simple web programming at the user's end.
RAW Graphs
The most flexible of the set. Copy, paste or upload your data and it produces a broad range of visualizations, mostly charts. Usable by a non-programmer.
ColorBrewer
A free tool for identifying the right colour schemes for a visualization or map, with a large list of data classes to choose from.
Chartist
For responsive, scalable and adaptable charts. It lets you select standard methods with flexibility and separates parts of the work by colour.
Choosing between them
With so many tools available, visualization becomes an essential part of how your work and viewpoints are presented to an audience. A reliable tool helps represent your work and judgments in an interactive and presentable way without obstructing the true functionality of your data.