WorkKeys Graphic Literacy key terms

A small box on a chart or diagram that explains what each color, symbol, line style, or pattern stands for, so the reader can interpret the display correctly.

The set of numbers and marked intervals along an axis that shows how distances on a graph or drawing translate into real values.

One of the reference lines on a graph, usually horizontal or vertical, along which values are measured and labeled to position data points.

The fixed amount of change between consecutive tick marks or labels on an axis, such as every 5 units or every 10 minutes.

A small picture, shape, or mark used on a graphic to represent a real object, condition, or category, explained by the legend.

The heading at the top of a chart, table, or diagram that states what the display is about and often the units or time period covered.

Text placed on or near a graphic element that names it or gives its value, such as a data label, axis label, or part name.

A chart that uses rectangular bars of varying length to compare amounts across categories, with longer bars representing larger values.

A chart that plots data points and connects them with lines, typically used to show how a value changes over time or across a continuous range.

A circular chart divided into slices, where each slice's angle and area show that category's share of a whole, usually as a percentage.

An arrangement of data in rows and columns, where column headings identify what each entry represents and rows list related records or items.

A horizontal line of entries in a table, usually containing all the data for one item, person, or record.

A vertical set of entries in a table, headed by a label that tells what kind of information appears in that column.

The label at the top of a table column or the top of a form section that names the data below it or describes what to enter there.

The general direction in which data moves over a series of points, such as rising, falling, or staying roughly level.

How quickly one value changes compared with another, often found by comparing the change in the vertical value to the change in the horizontal value.

The steepness of a line on a graph, calculated as vertical change divided by horizontal change; steeper lines mean faster change.

The highest value shown in a data set or on a graphic, often the peak point of a line or the tallest bar in a chart.

The lowest value shown in a data set or on a graphic, often the bottom point of a line or the shortest bar in a chart.

The spread between the lowest and highest values in a data set, found by subtracting the minimum from the maximum.

A single value that summarizes a set of numbers, found by adding all the values and dividing by how many values there are.

The middle value in a set of numbers arranged in order; half the values fall above it and half fall below it.

A number expressed as a part of 100, used to compare shares or changes on a consistent basis across different totals.

A comparison of two quantities showing how many times one contains the other, often written with a colon or as a fraction.

A diagram using standard shapes and arrows to show the steps, decisions, and order of a process from start to finish.

A step in a flowchart, usually drawn as a diamond, where a yes-or-no condition determines which path the process follows next.

The route a process takes through a diagram, following connected arrows or lines from one step to the next based on conditions met.

A drawing that shows how parts of a system or procedure connect and operate in sequence, including inputs, steps, and outputs.

A simplified drawing that uses standard symbols to show how the parts of a system are connected, without showing their true physical size or location.

A drawing that shows electrical connections between components using standardized symbols and labeled lines for conductors.

A scaled top-down drawing of a room or building showing walls, doors, windows, and the placement of equipment or furniture.

A detailed technical drawing, often with dimensions and notes, used to guide construction, assembly, or installation of a structure or product.

A number on a technical drawing that states the measured size, length, or distance of a part, usually given in specific units.

A drawing that shows how multiple parts fit together into a finished unit, often with numbered callouts that match a parts list.

A drawing that separates parts slightly along an axis to show how they fit together and the order in which they assemble.

A table accompanying a drawing that lists each numbered component, its description, and often its quantity or part number.

A table on a drawing or in a document that lists items such as materials, times, or quantities in organized rows for quick reference.

The act of matching information in one place on a graphic, such as a number or code, to related information elsewhere, like a list or another chart.