visualising

Visualising, in British English spelling, is the act of forming a mental image or composite representation of something that is not currently perceived, or of creating a visual depiction such as a chart, diagram, or illustration to communicate information. The term is used across disciplines to describe both cognitive imagery and the production of visuals.

In cognitive psychology, visualisation refers to the ability to generate and manipulate images in the mind's eye. It supports memory, problem solving, and mental rehearsal, for example in sports or education. The vividness and control of mental imagery vary among individuals, and practices such as guided imagery can influence performance, though effects are context-dependent.

External visualisation refers to the production of visuals to represent data or ideas. In data visualisation, charts, plots, maps, diagrams, and dashboards are used to reveal patterns, relationships, and trends. Core concerns include choosing appropriate encodings, avoiding distortion, preserving scale, and ensuring accessibility and clarity for diverse audiences. Common forms include line graphs, bar charts, scatter plots, heatmaps, and geographic maps.

Applications span science, business, journalism, education, and design. Visualising supports exploration of complex information, scenario analysis, and the communication of findings. It interacts with other cognitive and perceptual skills such as numeracy, literacy, and spatial reasoning.

See also

- Visualisation

- Visualization

- Mental imagery