Sankey charts, also known as Sankey diagrams, are a type of flow chart that visually represents the movement of quantities between different categories. Sankey charts are named after James Greenough Sankey, who used the diagrams to illustrate the energy transfer in heat engines. Today, Sankey charts are used to visualize a wide range of flows, from energy consumption and financial transactions to website traffic and user journeys.
Creating a Sankey chart involves several steps. First, you will need to gather data that will be represented in the chart. This data should include the categories that define the flow, as well as the quantities that determine the width of the lines between the categories.
Once you have your data, you can choose a charting library or tool to create the Sankey chart. Popular options include D3.js, Plotly, and Microsoft Power BI. Each of these tools offers different features and capabilities, but all allow you to customize the appearance of the chart to your liking.
Creating a Sankey chart can be a powerful way to visualize complex flows and reveal patterns and trends that may not be immediately apparent in raw data. By using color, opacity, and arrowheads, you can add depth and detail to your chart and make it more engaging and informative.
One of the key benefits of Sankey charts is their ability to simplify and clarify complex flows. Sankey charts use color-coded arrows to represent the movement of data between categories, making it easy to see where the data is coming from and going to. This clarity can be particularly helpful in fields such as finance, where flows of money can be complicated and difficult to track.
Another advantage of Sankey charts is their ability to compare different flows. By placing multiple charts side by side, you can compare the relative sizes of different flows and identify patterns or trends that may be worth investigating further.
In addition to these general features, Sankey charts are also useful for specific applications. For example, in the field of energy usage, Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of energy between different sources and uses. By using color-coding to represent different sources of energy (such as coal, oil, and renewable energy), Sankey charts can help stakeholders identify the most efficient and sustainable energy pathways.
Similarly, in the field of web analytics, Sankey charts can be used to visualize user journeys on a website. By tracking user clicks and page views, Sankey charts can reveal the most popular routes for users to take on a website, as well as identify any points of friction or confusion that may be causing high bounce rates.
Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing and understanding complex flows. Whether you are working in finance, energy, web analytics, or any other field, Sankey charts can help you see information in new ways and make more informed decisions based on that information.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.