timelinebut

Timelinebut is a term used in data visualization and narrative design to describe a method for displaying multiple timelines within a single interface. It enables the comparison of events across different threads, branches, or scenarios by presenting them side by side or in interconnected tracks. The term combines 'timeline' with a contrastive conjunction implied by 'but,' signaling alternate possibilities or conditional paths within a single chronology.

Origins of the term are not well documented; it has appeared in design discussions and conceptual papers in the 2020s as a way to discuss multi-path storytelling and comparative history visualization. Its exact provenance is unclear, and it is not widely standardized.

Core concepts include parallel or branching timelines, support for hypothetical or counterfactual scenarios, and interactive navigation that lets users switch perspectives, reveal dependencies, or compare outcomes. Data models typically assign events to nodes with timestamps, labels, and links to related events on other tracks, while the visualization assigns tracks or lanes and rules for alignment across timelines. Interfaces may include connectors between related events, zoomable time scales, and filters to highlight specific dimensions such as location, cause, or actors.

Applications span education, museums, journalism, history research, and fiction writing, where users seek to explore “what-if” narratives or study how differing conditions can shape outcomes. Challenges include cognitive load, design complexity, and the need for clear semantics to avoid confusion between parallel timelines. See also timeline, branching narrative, and data visualization.