What is a Tree Map?

A tree map is a visualization method that displays hierarchical data using nested rectangles. The size of each rectangle is proportional to a quantitative variable, and colors can represent different categories or another dimension of the data.

When to use Tree Maps?

Tree maps are excellent for showing hierarchical data with quantities, such as budget allocations, disk usage, portfolio compositions, or market share breakdowns where you want to show both hierarchy and size simultaneously.

When might Tree Maps be challenging?

Tree maps can be difficult to read when there are many small segments, when the hierarchy is very deep, or when comparing exact values. Labels can also become problematic in smaller rectangles.

What is the importance of Tree Maps in Visualization?

Tree maps efficiently use space to show both hierarchical structure and quantitative relationships, making them valuable for displaying complex organizational or compositional data in a compact format.