How does a stacked bar chart visually represent data?

A stacked bar chart visually represents data by segmenting each bar into different colored rectangles, with each segment corresponding to a sub-category within the main category represented by the bar. This method allows viewers to easily compare not only the entirety of the categories but also the contributions of individual segments to the total value of each bar.

Each color represents a different constituent part, making it straightforward to identify the composition of each bar. This visual representation is particularly useful when assessing the distribution of parts within a whole across multiple categories, enabling the observer to see both the total value as well as how each sub-category contributes to that total.

The other methods of data visual representation mentioned do not align with the characteristics of a stacked bar chart. Connecting points with lines typically describes a line chart, frequency counts along the axes are more common in bar graphs or histograms rather than specifically stacked bar charts, and plotting data points on a two-dimensional graph refers to scatter plots. Therefore, the segmentation of bars into colored rectangles is the defining feature of stacked bar charts.