How to use the Line Graph Maker
- Paste two or more columns: the first column is the X axis (time, dose, month), the others become lines.
- Choose "Line" or "Line + markers".
- Type axis titles with units, e.g. Time (s) and Temperature (\degC).
- Download the graph as SVG, PDF or PNG.
When to use a line graph
A line graph shows how a value changes across an ordered variable, usually time. The line implies continuity between points, so use it when the measurements belong to one continuous process: temperature during cooling, sales across months, absorbance over a reaction.
If your points are independent measurements with no natural order, a scatter plot is the better choice. If you are comparing separate categories, use a bar graph.
Multiple lines on one graph
Every numeric column after the X column becomes its own line. Each line gets a different colour and marker, so the chart still reads in black-and-white print. Choose the "Black & white" palette and lines switch to solid, dashed and dotted styles instead of colours.
Text, dates and months on the X axis
If the first column contains text such as Jan, Feb, Mar or sample names, the points are spaced evenly in the order they appear. Numeric X values are placed at their true positions, so uneven time steps are drawn correctly.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make a line graph with two lines?
- Put X values in the first column and each line in its own column, for example Time, Sample A, Sample B. Both lines appear automatically with a legend.
- Can I add a trendline to my line graph?
- Yes. Under Trendline choose linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic or power. The equation and R² appear in the legend.
- Can I make a line graph without markers?
- Yes. Choose chart type "Line" for lines only, or "Line + markers" to show each data point.
- Is my data private?
- No. Your data never leaves your browser. Plotiq parses and plots files locally with JavaScript, so nothing is uploaded to a server.
Last updated: · by the Plotiq team