A line chart with the area below the line filled, emphasizing volume or magnitude. The filled region draws attention to the cumulative total and makes it easy to perceive the overall scale of change over time.
Houston, We Have a Trash Problem — Space Debris Growth
Best for
- Emphasizing the magnitude of change over time
- Showing volume or cumulative totals
- Giving visual weight to a single data series
Avoid when
- Comparing multiple overlapping series — filled areas can obscure each other
- Precise value reading is critical — the fill can distract from exact points
- Data has many negative values that cross the baseline frequently