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Change over time

Sparkline

Shows a compact trend with minimal labels, often beside a metric or inside a table.

  • Chart
  • Trend over time
  • Status

What it answers

Is the recent trend rising, falling or stable?

Shape
Miniature line or columns
What it shows
Local direction and turning points.

Example: Skye Ascent Ltd

The question

Which way is each line of Skye Ascent Ltd’s plan heading?

Skye Ascent Ltd plan, 2025 to 2028

Skye Ascent Ltd plan, 2025 to 2028Skye Ascent Ltd, 2025 actual then May 2026 board budget for 2026 to 2028. Launches 4; 8; 10; 12 (rising). Cost per launch GBP million 12.58; 11.5; 10.5; 9.6 (falling). Operating result GBP million -61.8; -44.0; -24.0; +0.8 (rising to break-even).20252028Launches412Cost per launch (GBP m)12.589.6Operating result (GBP m)-61.80.8
Skye Ascent Ltd plan, 2025 to 2028Skye Ascent Ltd, 2025 actual then May 2026 board budget for 2026 to 2028. Launches 4; 8; 10; 12 (rising). Cost per launch GBP million 12.58; 11.5; 10.5; 9.6 (falling). Operating result GBP million -61.8; -44.0; -24.0; +0.8 (rising to break-even).20252028Launches412Cost per launch (GBP m)12.589.6Operating result (GBP m)-61.80.8
Skye Ascent Ltd, 2025 actual then May 2026 board budget for 2026 to 2028. Launches 4; 8; 10; 12 (rising). Cost per launch GBP million 12.58; 11.5; 10.5; 9.6 (falling). Operating result GBP million -61.8; -44.0; -24.0; +0.8 (rising to break-even).

Skye Ascent Ltd is a fictional company created for Insyt.

The misleading version

Same question, drawn badly

Sparklines compared as if they shared a scale

Sparklines compared as if they shared a scaleLaunches 4 to 12 (three times as many). Fixed costs 75.7 to 82.0 (8% higher).LaunchesFixed costs (GBP m)
Sparklines compared as if they shared a scaleLaunches 4 to 12 (three times as many). Fixed costs 75.7 to 82.0 (8% higher).LaunchesFixed costs (GBP m)
Launches 4 to 12 (three times as many). Fixed costs 75.7 to 82.0 (8% higher).

What goes wrong. Each sparkline stretches to its own height, so an 8% rise looks as big as a tripling. With no values beside them, readers cannot tell. Show the numbers.

When to use it

Use it when

Compact trend context inside tables or KPI cards.

Avoid it when

When precise axis reading or unequal scales could cause false comparison.

How to read it

Read left-to-right shape and the labelled start/end or latest value.

Note

Use comparable scales when comparing sparklines.

The data you need

Layout
Long table
Fields
Time: date/datetime or ordered number; Value: number
One row is
One observation at a time or ordered position. What is the grain?
Rules
Parse dates consistently and sort ascending. Resolve duplicate timestamps by a declared rule. Missing values are not automatically zero.
Optional
Optional Series. Use regular spacing for methods requiring it.
Preparation
Parse and sort timestamps or sequence positions; aggregate duplicates deliberately and preserve gaps. Parse dates consistently and sort ascending. Resolve duplicate timestamps by a declared rule. Missing values are not automatically zero.
Units
Time uses a stated date/time unit and sampling period; the value axis uses the measure's unit. Rates need their own explicit denominator.
Example of the input layout: Long tableA long table: one row per observation, few columns. New data adds rows.TimeValueAABBC
A long table: one row per observation, few columns. New data adds rows.

Worked example

Data 10,12,9,15. Draw a miniature line. The endpoint 15 is higher than start 10 despite an intervening fall.

TimeValue
2026-01-0130
2026-02-0134
2026-03-0138
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