Bump Chart / Slope Chart
Updated 2026-08-10
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
A bump chart plots each object's rank or value at several time points and connects them with lines, so the slope encodes both the direction and the magnitude of change. It is built for comparing relative positions rather than absolute quantities, and it is most useful when the story is one of overtaking, reversal, or convergence among a handful of competitors.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Track rank change: compare the positions of several objects across two or more time points. - Highlight crossings: mark where one line overtakes another to tell the story. - Limit scope: keep to a few objects and time points so the slopes stay readable.
Anchor fast decisions
The human visual system is highly sensitive to differences in slope and direction. Encoding change as a line angle lets a viewer compare many trajectories at once, so crossings and divergences leap out without any numbers being read.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slope_chartverified
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