Visual Variable

The concept of visual variables was introduced by Bertin in 1983. The list of visual variables was later expanded by Mackinlay. Sometimes visual variables are also called visual attributes.

The list was further expanded by several later publications. Most of them are also grouping the visual variables, e.g. combining length, area and repetition to shape or breaking down position in the three dimensions of space and one time dimension.

The process of mapping data to visual variables is called visual mapping.

Visual Variables based on Mackinlay

Sorted by Accuracy for Quantitive Tasks

Position

Length

Angle

Slope

Area

Volume

Density

Color Saturation

Sorted by Accuracy for Ordinal Tasks

Position

Density

Color Saturation

Color Hue

Texture

Connection

Containment

Length

Angle

Slope

Area

Volume

Sorted by Accuracy for Nominal Tasks

Position

Color Hue

Texture

Connection

Containment

Density

Color Saturation

Shape

Length

Angle

Slope

Area

Volume