What are line graphs best used for?

Line graphs are particularly effective for displaying data in a time series format, as they illustrate trends and changes in a specific metric over a continuous time interval. This visualization allows users to easily observe how a particular metric behaves over time, revealing patterns, fluctuations, and overall trends that might not be apparent in other types of graphs.

By connecting individual data points with a continuous line, line graphs enable viewers to quickly grasp how values increase or decrease, identify seasonal cycles, and comprehend long-term trends. This makes them a popular choice for monitoring performance metrics, sales data, or any other time-dependent information.

Other choices, while relevant to data visualization, do not capture the essence of what line graphs are best suited for. For instance, while line graphs can represent a count of a metric, this does not highlight their primary purpose. Similarly, while they can be used to compare different metrics or view averages over time, these are duties that are more directly associated with other types of graphs, such as bar charts or scatter plots.