Glyph (data visualization)

Four-dimensional data visualization, using VisIt: in three-dimensional phase space a fourth scalar variable is visualized by use of coloured glyphs.

In the context of data visualization, a glyph is any marker, such as an arrow or similar marking, used to specify part of a visualization. This is a representation to visualize data where the data set is presented as a collection of visual objects. These visual objects are collectively called a glyph. It helps visualizing data relation in data analysis, statistics, etc. by using any custom notation.

In the context of data visualization, a glyph is the visual representation of a piece of data where the attributes of a graphical entity are dictated by one or more attributes of a data record.

— Matthew O. Ward, Multivariate data glyphs: Principles and practice, In: Handbook of data visualization (2008), p.180.

Constructing glyphs

Glyph construction can be a complex process when there are many dimensions to be represented in the visualization. Maguire et al proposed a taxonomy based approach to glyph-design that uses a tree to guide the visual encodings used to representation various data items.

Duffy et al created perhaps one of the most complex glyph representations with their representation of sperm movement.

External links

• Visualize Free - Data Visualization Software & Visual Analytics Application
• Data Science - Learn, Grow, Build Connections & Transform The World With AI