small multiples

A small multiples visualization presents a series of small, identical graphs or charts — each using the same scale, axes, and visual encoding — arranged in a grid or sequence, each displaying a different subset, slice, or condition of the data. This technique, named by Edward Tufte, persists through data design systems, analytical practice, and visual communication as a method enabling rapid comparison across many views by holding the visual code constant while varying the data subset. The design parameter is the shared visual encoding across all small views; the persistence mechanism is established through data visualization practice, design guidelines, and analytical training.[formal: parvula multiplices | substrate: mind | horizon: a moment | explicit: yes | epoch: 1.13]