Ridgeline Plot
A ridgeline plot stacks a series of partially overlapping density curves, one per group, so a viewer can compare distribution shapes across many categories in a small area. It is a compact alternative to a row of histograms or violins, ideal for showing how a metric shifts from w
Template details
- chart
- ridgeline
- joy-plot
- distribution
- d3
When to use this template
A ridgeline plot excels at revealing how the distribution of a quantitative variable evolves or differs across numerous ordered categories. Analysts use it to quickly spot shifts in central tendency, spread, skew, or multi-modality, making it ideal for tracking changes in a metric over time or across distinct groups. It provides a holistic view of distributional trends that would be cumbersome to discern from many separate charts.
- Datasets with a single continuous quantitative variable.
- Data grouped by a high-cardinality ordinal or categorical variable.
- Comparing distribution shapes across 10-50 distinct groups.
- Observing subtle shifts in distribution over time or ordered categories.
- Identifying trends in skew, spread, or modality across groups.
- When space is limited for comparing many individual distributions.