A bubble chart is a human-made data visualization technique that encodes three numeric variables simultaneously: two variables map to Cartesian x and y positions, and a third variable maps to the area of a circle (bubble) placed at that position. It extends the scatter plot by adding a third dimension through bubble sizing, enabling comparison of magnitude alongside positional relationships across datasets used in economics, demographics, and scientific analysis. The persistence mechanism is graphic rendering through charting libraries and visualization software, maintained by standard conventions for bubble-size scaling and axis labeling. [formal: bubble-chartum | substrate: mind | horizon: a moment | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
bubble chart
A bubble chart is a human-made data visualization technique that encodes three numeric variables simultaneously: two variables map to Cartesian x and y positions, and a third variable maps to the area of a circle (bubble) placed at that po…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made data visualization technique that encodes three variables: two on Cartesian axes and a third as bubble area. Built for comparing relationships across multi-dimensional numeric datasets in scientific, business, and statistical reporting. Uses circles sized proportionally to a value, positioned by x-y coordinates.
Names and aliases
- bubble charten · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrwtsiei01bpsoacfij1tjcbINSTANCE_OF →
Bubble chart is a specific kind of scatter plot: it displays data points as bubbles on x-y axes where a third dimension controls bubble size. A competent speaker would call a bubble chart 'a scatter plot.' Scatter plot is older (0.31 vs 0.35 epoch) and is the nearest kind.
- cmrwuadcq01dksoacknd5l8nlSERVES →
Bubble charts are specifically designed to visualize multivariate data using circles positioned in two dimensions with area encoding a fourth variable — their entire purpose is to serve data visualization by making complex relationships perceptible at a glance.
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Record identity
- Created
- Jul 23, 2026, 4:35 AM UTC
- Content hash
- 2f7b191fd6fd5a6c4cbd0940693be05e80303526ca1fd9c7bc433494b82e90b7