Introduction

In this chapter, we are going to explore the most essential question in any data visualization project, how data can be represented both in programming constructs, and its visual metaphor. Before we start on this topic, some discussion on what data visualization is is necessary. In order to understand what data visualization is, first we need to understand the difference between data and information.

Data are raw facts. The word raw indicates that the facts have not yet been processed to reveal their meaning...Information is the result of processing raw data to reveal its meaning.

(Rob P., S. Morris, and Coronel C. 2009)

This is how data and information are traditionally defined in the digital information world. However, data visualization provides a much richer interpretation of this definition since information is no longer the mere result of processed raw facts but rather a visual metaphor of the facts. As suggested by Manuel Lima in his Information Visualization Manifesto...