Beeswarm Plot
A beeswarm plot shows the distribution of a single numeric variable as individual dots that are jittered vertically just enough to avoid overlap, so every observation remains visible. Unlike a histogram or violin plot, no information is aggregated into bins or smoothed away — eac
Template details
- chart
- beeswarm
- distribution
- swarm
- d3
When to use this template
A beeswarm plot excels at revealing the precise shape of a distribution, making individual data points, clusters, and outliers immediately apparent. Analysts use it to understand the granular spread of a numeric variable, particularly when comparing distributions across different categories or identifying specific values that deviate from the norm. It prioritizes individual observation visibility over aggregation.
- Datasets with a single primary numeric variable.
- Small to medium cardinality (hundreds to a few thousand points).
- Data where individual observation identity is critical.
- Comparing distributions of a numeric variable across categories.
- Identifying outliers, gaps, or distinct clusters within data.
- Data where exact values and their frequency matter.