Vega-Lite Faceted Small Multiples
Small multiples (aka trellis) — a grid of identical mini-charts, each filtered to one slice of a categorical variable. Edward Tufte's favourite layout for showing many comparable distributions at once. Vega-Lite produces this with one `column` (or `row`, or both) channel — every
Template details
- chart
- small-multiples
- trellis
- facet
- vega
- vega-lite
When to use this template
Small multiples are ideal for comparing trends, distributions, or patterns across many distinct categories simultaneously. An analyst would reach for this visualization to quickly identify differences, outliers, or common behaviors among groups, rather than focusing on individual group details. It excels at revealing how a metric behaves under varying conditions or across different segments.
- Datasets with a primary categorical variable for comparison across many groups.
- Quantitative measures whose distributions or trends need scrutiny across groups.
- High cardinality in the faceting categorical variable (typically 5+ distinct groups).
- When identifying differences or similarities across many subgroups is critical.
- Consistent units and scales for direct comparison across all facets.
- Data where each mini-chart tells a comparable story (e.g., time series, histograms).