[Yandex Cloud documentation](../../index.md) > [Yandex DataLens](../index.md) > Charts > [Visualization reference](index.md) > Line chart
# Line chart  in Yandex DataLens
The chart shows how one or more measures change over a period of time. The chart line connects points with coordinates (X, Y).
### What you can observe
The chart depicts trends, seasonal patterns, dynamics, and relationships between multiple measures at a the same point in time.
Multiple measures can be drawn using different lines on the same chart. For example, the basic sales targets, optimistic sales targets, and actual sales can be represented as a dotted, dashed, and solid line, respectively.
{% list tabs %}
- Line chart
- Source table
Year | Sales | Basic targets | Optimistic targets
----- | --------- | --------- | ---------
January 2019| 209K | 200K | 210K
February 2019| 194K | 205K | 220K
March 2019| 333K | 250K | 280K
April 2019| 359K | 260K | 290K
May 2019| 394K | 270K | 300K
June 2019| 477K | 300K | 350K
July 2019| 557K | 350K | 400K
August 2019| 685K | 400K | 450K
September 2019| 609K | 500K | 550K
October 2019| 665K | 530K | 570K
November 2019| 724K | 600K | 670K
December 2019| 869K | 700K | 800K
{% endlist %}
In the settings of the line chart added to the dashboard, you can apply modeling, i.e., add [smoothing or a trend line](../dashboard/trends-and-smoothing.md). These lines are shown only temporarily and not added to the original chart.
### Extra options
* **Additional axes**
When measure values vary greatly, you can use separate Y-axes for each measure.
{% cut "Example" %}
{% list tabs %}
- Sales and customer count chart
- Source table
| Year | Sales | Number of customers |
| ----- | ----- | ----- |
| January 2019 | 298,450 | 64 |
| February 2019 |498,052 | 84 |
| March 2019 | 629,201 | 99 |
| April 2019 | 895,075 | 147 |
| May 2019 | 998,557 | 166 |
| June 2019 | 1,050,330 | 161 |
| July 2019 | 1,350,246 | 244 |
| August 2019 | 1,452,550 | 255 |
| September 2019 | 1,716,182 | 273 |
| October 2019 | 1,670,980 | 300 |
| November 2019 | 1,743,450 | 326 |
| December 2019 | 1,935,377 | 345 |
{% endlist %}
{% endcut %}
* **Additional categories**
The chart allows you to compare several categories based on the same measure. Each category has a line of a different color or shape.
{% cut "Example" %}
{% list tabs %}
- Total sales for different product categories
- Source table
Year | Home appliances | Household goods | Household cleaners
----- | ---------| ---------- | ----------
January 2019| 128K | 55K | 26K
February 2019| 97K | 79K | 18K
March 2019| 187K | 105K | 41K
April 2019| 188K | 137K | 34K
May 2019| 230K | 121K | 43K
June 2019| 256K | 162K | 59K
July 2019| 284K | 206K | 67K
August 2019| 409K | 204K | 72K
September 2019| 314K | 209K | 86K
October 2019| 324K | 262K | 79K
November 2019| 385K | 238K | 101K
December 2019| 451K | 307K | 111K
{% endlist %}
{% endcut %}
* **Points instead of lines**
If using single values on the X-axis, you will see nothing but points on the chart. This may happen due to [filtering](../dashboard/chart-chart-filtration.md).
{% cut "Example" %}
{% list tabs %}
- Individual points
- Source table
Year | Home appliances | Household goods | Household cleaners
----- | ---------| ---------- | ----------
2?018 | 25K | 21K | 16K
{% endlist %}
{% endcut %}
## Wizard sections {#wizard-sections}
Wizard
section| Description
----- | ----
X | Dimension. You can specify only one field here. This dimension is usually a date. If this is the case, make sure to specify the `Date` data type for this field in the dataset. This is required for correct sorting and signature display. For better visualization, you can group dates into weeks, months, and years. For more information, see [Field settings](../concepts/chart/settings.md#field-settings).
Y | Measure. You can specify multiple measures.
If you add more than one measure to a section, the **Colors** section will contain a dimension named [Measure Names](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md).
Y2 | Measure. Use it to add a second Y axis to a chart. You can specify multiple measures.
If you add more than one measure to a section, the **Colors** section will contain a dimension named [Measure Names](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md).
Colors | [Measure Names](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md) dimension or field. Affects the color of lines. To delete [Measure Names](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md), click the cross icon or remove measures from the Y axis.
Forms | [Measure Names](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md) dimension or field. Affects the shape and size of lines. You can select the line shape from presets. You can select the line size from the list, or enter manually: from `1` to `12` pixels.
Sorting | Dimension or measure. Affects the sorting of the X axis. Sorting only applies to dimensions used when building a chart. The sorting direction is marked with an icon next to the field:  for ascending or  for descending. To change the sorting direction, click the icon.
Labels | Measure. Displays measure values on the chart. If multiple measures are added to the **Y** or **Y2** section, drag [Measure Values](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md) to this section. [Markup functions](../function-ref/markup-functions.md) are supported. For `String` type fields, you can configure using basic [Markdown in Yandex DataLens](../dashboard/markdown.md) syntax: click the icon before the field name and enable **Markdown**.
Split | Dimension. Splits a chart horizontally by the selected dimension's values. The maximum number of splits per chart is 25.
Filters | Dimension or measure. Used as a filter.
## Creating a line chart {#create-diagram}
To create a line chart:
{% note warning %}
If you use the new DataLens object model with [workbooks and collections](../workbooks-collections/index.md):
1. Go to the DataLens [home page](https://datalens.ru/?skipPromo=true). In the left-hand panel, select  **Collections and workbooks**.
1. Open the workbook, click **Create** in the top-right corner, and select the object you need.
Follow the guide from step 4.
{% endnote %}
1. Go to the DataLens [home page](https://datalens.ru/?skipPromo=true).
1. In the left-hand panel, select  **Charts**.
1. Click **Create chart** → **Chart**.
1. At the top left, click  **Select dataset** and specify the dataset to visualize. If you do not have a dataset, [create one](../dataset/create-dataset.md#create).
1. Select **Line chart** as your chart type.
1. Drag a dimension from the dataset to the **X** section. The values will appear in the lower part of the chart on the X axis.
1. Drag one or more measures from the dataset to the **Y** section. The values will be displayed as a chart on the Y axis.
1. Drag one or more measures from the dataset to the **Y2** section. The values will be displayed as a chart on the second Y axis.
1. Drag a dimension to the **Color** section. The measure value will be divided by color depending on the dimension you select.
1. Drag the [Measure Names](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md) dimension or field to the **Forms** section. The measure value will be divided by line shape and width depending on the dimension you select. [Set up line sizes and shapes](../concepts/chart/settings.md#forms-settings).
1. Drag a dimension or measure from the dataset to the **Filters** section. The field can be empty. In this case, no filters are applied.
### Configuring display of `null` values {#null-settings}
* If the source data has a row with `null` for a measure value, this point will not be plotted on a chart with default settings.
_For example, if the source has a row with the date, `20.07.2022`, but the sales total for it is not specified._
To set up null value display on a chart:
1. Click  in the top-right corner of the section with the measure you want to configure (the icon appears when you hover over the section).
1. In **Empty values (null)**, select `Display as 0`.
1. Click **Apply**. Now the chart will use `0` instead of `null`.
* If a row is missing from the source data altogether, the chart section settings will not change the chart.
_For example, if the source does not have a row with the particular date, `20.07.2022`, nothing will be shown for this date on the chart._
For more information, see [Configuring the display of null values in a Yandex DataLens chart](../operations/chart/chart-null-settings.md).
## Recommendations {#recomendations}
* **Scale.** The line chart data perception depends on its proportions.
The lines may look steeper (rising or falling sharply) if the chart is compressed over a small segment. If the chart covers a longer segment, the lines appear smoother because the chart is stretched out.
{% cut "Example" %}
{% list tabs %}
- Steep
- Smoother
{% endlist %}
{% endcut %}
For a closer look at the chart, make the axis longer.
* **Labels.** Use labels to display measure values on the chart. To display values on the chart, drag a measure from the dataset to the **Labels** section.
{% cut "Chart example" %}
{% endcut %}
If multiple measures are added to the **Y** or **Y2** section, drag [Measure Values](../concepts/chart/measure-values.md) to this section.
{% cut "Chart example" %}
{% endcut %}
You can also sign only the last value on the chart by adding a calculated field with the `MAX` function. For more information, see [Demo dashboard](https://datalens.yandex/9fms9uae7ip02?tab=Are).
* **Labels.** If the category values are too verbose, make them shorter so that the chart labels look neater.
You can use string functions in calculated fields or the [CASE](../function-ref/CASE.md) conditional statements.
* **Colors.** For multiple measures, choose distinguishable and contrasting colors. Using more than 3-5 colors can make the chart harder to read.
To highlight one measure, select the brightest color for it.
* Disable the **Sum in tooltips** option in the [chart settings](../concepts/chart/settings.md#common-settings) if the chart lines represent different entities. For example, the sales amount and the number of customers.
* **Splitting.** You can split a chart by dimension into several small, easy-to-compare charts. To do this, drag a dimension from the dataset to the **Split** section.
{% cut "Chart example" %}
{% endcut %}
* For better visualization, use formatting in the [dimension](../concepts/chart/settings.md#measure-settings) and [measure](../concepts/chart/settings.md#indicator-settings) setup window.
Check the data type for correct sorting and comparison of values. Specify additional parameters.
For example, the format and units for numeric data and the number of decimal places for fractions.
{% cut "Example of measure settings" %}
{% endcut %}
## Use cases {#examples}
* [Monitoring the status of geographically distributed devices](../tutorials/datalens.md)
#### Useful links {#see-also}
* [Creating a dashboard in Yandex DataLens](../operations/dashboard/create.md)
* [Adding a chart to a dashboard in Yandex DataLens](../operations/dashboard/add-chart.md)
* [Adding a selector to a dashboard in Yandex DataLens](../operations/dashboard/add-selector.md)