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Diagram
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Sample flowchart representing the decision process to add a new article to Wikip
edia.
A diagram is a two-dimensional geometric symbolic representation of information
according to some visualization technique. Sometimes, the technique uses a three
-dimensional visualization which is then projected onto the two-dimensional surf
ace. The word graph is sometimes used as a synonym for diagram.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Overview
* 2 Main diagram types
* 3 Specific diagram types
o 3.1 A D
o 3.2 E H
o 3.3 I L
o 3.4 M P
o 3.5 R U
o 3.6 V Z
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 Further reading
[edit] Overview
A diagram is a 2D geometric symbolic representation of information according to
some visualization technique. Sometimes, the technique uses a 3D visualization w
hich is then projected onto the 2D surface. The term diagram in common sense can
have two meanings.
* visual information device : Like the term "illustration" the diagram is us
ed as a collective term standing for the whole class of technical genres, includ
ing graphs, technical drawings and tables.[1]
* specific kind of visual display : This is only the genre, that show qualit
ative data with shapes that are connected by lines, arrows, or other visual link
s.
In science the term is used in both ways. For example Anderson (1997) stated mor
e generally: "diagrams are pictorial, yet abstract, representations of informati
on, and maps, line graphs, bar charts, engineering blueprints, and architects' s
ketches are all examples of diagrams, whereas photographs and video are not".[2]
On the other hand Lowe (1993) defined diagrams as specifically "abstract graphi
c portrayals of the subject matter they represent".[3]
In the specific sense diagrams and charts contrast computer graphics, technical
illustrations, infographics, maps, and technical drawings, by show "abstract rat
her than literal representations of information".[1] The essences of a diagram c
an be seen as:[1]
* a form of visual formatting devices
* a display that do not show quantitative data, but rather relationships and
abstract information
* with building blocks such as geometrical shapes connected by lines, arrows
, or other visual links.
Or in Hall's (1996) words "diagrams are simplified figures, caricatures in a way
, intended to convey essential meaning".[4] These simplified figures are often b
ased on set of rules. The basic shape according to White (1984) can be character
ized in terms of "elegance, clarity, ease, pattern, simplicity, and validity"[1]
. The elegance for a start is determined by whether or not the diagram is "the s
implest and most fitting solution to a problem".[5]
[edit] Main diagram types
There are at least the following types of diagrams:
* Graph-based diagrams: these take a collection of items and relationships b
etween them, and express them by giving each item a 2D position, while the relat
ionships are expressed as connections between the items or overlaps between the
items; examples of such techniques:

tree diagram

network diagram

flowchart

Venn diagram

existential graph
* Chart-like diagram techniques, which display a relationship between two va
riables that take either discrete or a continuous ranges of values; examples:

histogram

bar chart

pie chart

function graph

scatter plot
* Other types of diagrams, e.g.,

train diagram

exploded view
population density map

Pioneer plaque

Three-dimensional diagram
Thousands of diagram techniques exist. Some more examples follow.
[edit] Specific diagram types
[edit] A D
A
* Activity diagram used in UML and SysML
B
* Bachman diagram
* Booch used in software engineering
* Block diagram
* Block Definition Diagram (BDD) used in SysML
* Bubble Map - used in education
* Business & IT Diagram (B&IT) - used in business and IT modelling
C
* Cartogram
* Category theory diagrams
* Cause-and-effect diagram
* Circuit diagram
* Class diagram from UML
* Collaboration diagram from UML 1.x
* Communication diagram from UML 2.0
* Commutative diagram
* Component diagram from UML
* Composite structure diagram from UML
* Concept map
* Constellation diagram
* Context diagram
* Control flow diagram
* Contour diagram
* Cordier diagram
* Cross-functional flowchart
D
* Database model diagram
* Data flow diagram
* Data structure diagram
* Dendrogram
* Dependency diagram
* Deployment diagram from UML
* Dot and cross diagram
* Double bubble map - used in education
List of modeling languages
[edit] E H
E
* Entity-Relationship diagram (ERD)
* Event-driven process chain
* Euler diagram
* Eye diagram - a diagram of a received telecommunications signal
* Express-G
* Extended Functional Flow Block Diagram (EFFBD)
F
* Family tree
* Feynman diagram
* Fusion diagram
* Free body diagram
G
* Gantt chart shows the timing of tasks or activities (used in project manag
ement)
* Grotrian diagram
* Goodman diagram - shows the fatigue data (example: for a wind turbine blad
es)
H
* Hasse diagram
* HIPO diagram[6]
[edit] I L
I
* Internal Block Diagram (IBD) used in SysML
* IDEF0
* IDEF1 (entity relations)
* Interaction overview diagram from UML
* Ishikawa diagram
J
* Jackson diagram
K
* Karnaugh map
* Kinematic diagram
L
* Line of balance

[edit] M P
M
* Martin ERD
* Message Sequence Chart
* Mind map used for learning, brainstorming, memory, visual thinking and pro
blem solving
N
* N2
* Nassi Shneiderman diagram or structogram a representation for structured pro
gramming
* Nomogram
O
* Object diagram from UML
P
* Package diagram from UML and SysML
* Parametric diagram from SysML
* PERT
* Petri net shows the structure of a distributed system as a directed bipart
ite graph with annotations
* Piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID)
* Phase diagram used to present solid/liquid/gas information
* Plant Diagram
* Pressure volume diagram used to analyse engines
* Pourbaix diagram
* Process flow diagram or PFD used in chemical engineering
* Program structure diagram
[edit] R U
R
* Radial Diagram
* Requirement Diagram Used in SysML
* Rich Picture
S
* Sankey diagram - represents material, energy or cost flows with quantity p
roportional arrows in a process network.
* Sentence diagram -- represents the grammatical structure of a natural lang
uage sentence.
* Sequence diagram from UML and SysML
* SDL/GR diagram Specification and Description Language. SDL is a formal lan
guage used in computer science.
* Smith chart
* Spider chart
* Spray diagram
* SSADM Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (used in software
engineering)
* State diagram are used for state machines in software engineering
* Swim lane
* Systems Biology Graphical Notation - a graphical notation used in diagrams
of biochemical and cellular processes studied in Systems biology
* System context diagram
* System structure
* Systematic layout planning
T
 * Timing Diagram: Digital Timing Diagram
* Timing Diagram: UML Timing Diagram
* TQM Diagram
U
* UML diagram Unified Modeling Language (used in software engineering)
* Use case diagram from UML and SysML
[edit] V Z
V
* Value Stream Mapping
* Venn diagram
* Voronoi diagram
W
* Warnier-Orr
Y
* Yourdon-Coad see Edward Yourdon, used in software engineering
[edit] See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: diagrams
Look up diagram in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
* Chart
* Diagramming Software
* Diagrammatic reasoning
* List of graphical methods
* Mathematical diagram
* Plot (graphics)
* commons:Specific diagram types - gallery of many diagram types.
* commons:Commons:Diagram resources
[edit] References
1. ^ a b c d Brasseur, Lee E. (2003). Visualizing technical information: a cu
ltural critique. Amityville, N.Y: Baywood Pub. ISBN 0-89503-240-6.
2. ^ Michael Anderson (1997). "Introduction to Diagrammatic Reasoning". Retri
eved 21 July 2008.
3. ^ Lowe, Richard K. (1993). "Diagrammatic information: techniques for explo
ring its mental representation and processing". Information Design Journal 7 (1)
: 3 18.
4. ^ Bert S. Hall (1996). "The Didactic and the Elegant: Some Thoughts on Sci
entific and Technological Illustrations in the Middle Ages and Renaissance". in:
B. Braigie (ed.) Picturing knowledge: historical and philosophical problems con
cerning the use of art in science. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p.9
5. ^ White, Jan V. (1984). Using charts and graphs: 1000 ideas for visual per
suasion. New York: Bowker. ISBN 0-8352-1894-5.
6. ^ HIPO diagram
[edit] Further reading
* Michael Anderson, Peter Cheng, Volker Haarslev (Eds.) (2000). Theory and A
pplication of Diagrams: First International Conference, Diagrams 2000. Edinburgh
, Scotland, UK, September 1-3, 2000. Proceedings.
[hide]
v d e
Visualization of technical information
Fields
Biological data visualization · Chemical imaging · Crime mapping · Data visualization ·
Educational visualization · Flow visualization · Geovisualization · Information visual
ization · Mathematical visualization · Medical imaging · Molecular graphics · Product vi
sualization · Scientific visualization · Software visualization · Technical drawing · Vo
lume visualization
Image types
Chart · Computer graphics · Diagram · Graph of a function · Engineering drawing · Ideogram
· Information graphics · Map · Photograph · Pictogram · Plot · Statistical graphics · Tabl
echnical drawings · Technical illustration
Experts
Jacques Bertin · Stuart Card · Thomas A. DeFanti · Michael Friendly · Nigel Holmes · Alan
MacEachren · Jock D. Mackinlay · Michael Maltz · Bruce H. McCormick · Charles Joseph Min
ard · Otto Neurath · William Playfair · Clifford A. Pickover · Arthur H. Robinson · Lawren
ce J. Rosenblum · Adolphe Quetelet · George G. Robertson · Ben Shneiderman · Edward Tuft
e
Related topics
Cartography · Computer graphics · Graph drawing · Graphic design · Imaging science · Infor
mation science · Mental visualisation · Neuroimaging · Scientific modelling · Spatial an
alysis · Visual analytics · Visual perception