Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that uses a network diagram to visualize the flow of data between different sources and destinations. They are often used in data analysis and visualization to help users understand the relationships between different variables and to identify patterns in the data.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a sankey chart, as well as exploring their applications in various fields. In addition, we will also provide an overview of how sankey charts can be used to visualize time series data.
Sankey Chart
A sankey chart is a network diagram that uses nodes (sources, destinations, or both) and arrows to represent the flow of data between those nodes. Each node represents a variable, and the arrows represent the flow of data between the nodes.
There are several types of sankey charts, including:
1. Source-target sankey chart: This type of sankey chart visualizes the flow of data from a source node to a destination node.
2. Network sankey chart: This type of sankey chart represents a combination of both source and target nodes.
3. Node sankey chart: This type of sankey chart visualizes the flow of data from a single node to all other nodes.
4. Flow sankey chart: This type of sankey chart visualizes the flow of data from one source node to multiple destination nodes.
Examples of Sankey Chart Applications
Sankey charts can be used in various fields to help users understand the relationships between different variables and identify patterns in the data. Here are some examples of sankey chart applications:
1. In finance, sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of inflows and outflows of financial transactions between different accounts, such as bank accounts, investment portfolios, or personal credit cards.
2. In data engineering, sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of data between different tables or between different databases. This can help users understand the relationships between different tables and identify potential data inconsistencies.
3. In marketing and sales, sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of data between different sales channels, such as online shopping carts or social media platforms.
4. In healthcare, sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of data between different patient populations, such as different subgroups of a hospital or different regions of a country.
Creating a Sankey Chart
To create a sankey chart, you will need to follow these steps:
1. Determine the nodes and arrows: Choose the variables you want to visualize in your sankey chart and create a network diagram with arrows representing the flow of data between the nodes.
2. Assign values to the nodes and arrows: Assign a value to each node or arrow based on the data you are visualizing. For example, if you are visualizing financial transactions, each transaction could have a value representing the amount of money involved.
3. Choose a layout: Determine where the nodes and arrows should be positioned on the graph. You can choose a network layout or a linear layout, depending on the type of data you are visualizing.
4. Draw the sankey chart: Draw the nodes and arrows using a network diagram drawing tool, such as Visio or networkx. Label the nodes and arrows with the appropriate values and connections.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for analyzing and visualizing data flow relationships. With the right approach and a bit of creativity, you can use sankey charts to create clear and concise visualizations that help you understand the relationships between different variables and identify potential patterns in the data. Whether you are in the field of finance, data engineering, marketing, healthcare, or any other field, sankey charts can be a valuable tool to help you gain insights and make data-driven decisions.

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