donutkaavio

A donut chart, also known as a ring chart or annular chart, is a type of data visualization that resembles a donut. It is a variation of the pie chart, where the center of the circle is removed, creating a hole or ring. This central area can be used to display additional information, such as a total value or a key metric.

Donut charts are used to display categorical data as proportions of a whole. Each segment of the ring represents a category, and the size of the segment is proportional to the percentage of the whole it represents. Like pie charts, donut charts are best suited for a small number of categories, typically six or fewer. When too many categories are present, the chart becomes difficult to read and interpret.

The primary advantage of a donut chart over a traditional pie chart is its ability to present information in the center. This can be particularly useful for highlighting the total sum of all categories or for displaying a key performance indicator that is relevant to the entire dataset. The ring format can also sometimes make it easier to compare the lengths of arcs for different categories, although this is still a challenge with circular visualizations.

However, donut charts share many of the same limitations as pie charts. They can be misleading if used to compare values across different charts, and they are not ideal for displaying precise numerical comparisons. For datasets with many categories or for visualizing trends over time, other chart types such as bar charts or line graphs are generally more appropriate. The readability of a donut chart can also be affected by the thickness of the ring. A very thin ring can make it difficult to discern the proportions accurately.