Different map types reveal insights in unique ways. Explore 10 ways to visualize spatial data, from bubble maps to grid cartograms. Discover a map type that suits your data, then fork an example from the Observable Plot gallery to create your own: buff.ly/csEj326
A typical choropleth map represents values for a single continuous variable using color. But what if you want to map composition across multiple categories instead? Check out Joe Davies’ ternary choropleth map, which visualizes population age structure based on 3 discrete age bins: buff.ly/mQoRjGV
AI-powered analysis is changing how and where stakeholders want to interact with data. Read our new post for more on:
🤖 How AI is democratizing data analysis
💡 What this means for stakeholder expectations
🤝 How data teams can meet users where they are, without sacrificing rigor
When D3 was released in February 2011, it transformed how we build data visualizations for the web and ushered in a new age of unbridled creativity in information design, data journalism, and beyond. Today, it remains the backbone of modern, interactive data viz.
Happy 15th birthday, D3 🎂
d3js.org
Thanks Jo Wood, for articulating so well what we love about Observable Notebooks!
Interactive data visualization can bridge disciplines, democratize exploration, and transform how teams think with data. Learn how Dr. Philip Bogden helped oncology researchers move beyond spreadsheets into collaborative, visual analysis that streamlines discovery: buff.ly/XTd6uGI
Observable's Julio Avalos and Marisa Morby recently chatted about AI's impact and opportunity in data analysis, shifting stakeholder expectations, and the role of advanced data visualization in this new reality. Check it out👇
🎥 Recording: buff.ly/Jn8ng3o
📝 Recap post: buff.ly/9Cdyh4N
AI is fundamentally changing the data analysis and BI landscape. Learn how AI is meaningfully improving data analysis workflows today, where it's falling short, and what it means to operationalize AI responsibly in real-world data teams👇
Whether you're building a chart from scratch, forking a notebook, or using AI to prototype, it helps to understand the data formats your visualization tools expect.
Learn how to reshape data for Observable Plot & D3, and check out our reusable code snippets: buff.ly/Pna1bVO
Observable Plot helps you build expressive, interactive data visualizations with concise and approachable code. Plus, advanced customization options like spatial interpolation, color blend modes, and interactive crosshairs come built-in.
👉 Discover 8 underused Plot options:
Between AI advances and rising stakeholder expectations, the BI and data analysis landscape is changing fast. What can data teams do to adapt? In a recent fireside chat, our CEO and Director of Research unpacked what these changes mean for data teams:
Missed our webinar on the evolving data analysis & BI landscape? Observable’s Director of Research Marisa Morby and co-CEO Julio Avalos discuss AI’s impact and opportunity in data analysis, shifting stakeholder expectations, and why advanced data viz matters. 🎥
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It's great to move fast in data analysis, but not if that means skipping important steps to ensure your work is accurate and useful. In our new post, we share 4 practical habits to avoid common gotchas in data analysis 👉 buff.ly/aYJqkvW
🔍 Observable AI works transparently so you can inspect and verify AI-generated outputs. See 3 ways we use AI in exploratory data analysis for quick data profiling, data wrangling with text-to-SQL, and drafting interactive charts 👉 buff.ly/aSKDUHg
Our webinar on the evolving landscape of data analysis and visualization is tomorrow at 1PM ET / 10AM PT! Register now and bring questions for the live Q&A:
🗺️ Comparing values by region can be tricky with spatial data due to vastly different geographies. Enter the grid cartogram: an engaging map type that represents subregions using uniform tiles, while avoiding overlap. Learn more 👇
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Verifiable, spatial AI can help you get you from big, complex data to trusted insights — faster. Learn about Observable's approach to AI 👉 buff.ly/tN3Z6Rq
If you’re on a data team, you’re probably being asked for more insights — faster. AI is reshaping BI & analytics, but it’s not without challenges. Join Observable Co-CEO Julio Avalos and Director of Research Marisa Morby for a conversation on what data teams are learning. Register:
🔮 The BI and analytics landscape is rapidly changing. While we may not be able to precisely predict the future, we have a pretty good sense of where the industry is going. Read our POV and see how you can take advantage of these shifts. buff.ly/j0LWAc4
At Observable, we think rich, interactive charts shouldn’t be limited to expert developers. That’s why the Observable Canvases chart library includes advanced features like visual filtering, responsiveness, and extreme value handling by default.
📈 Learn more 👉 buff.ly/NpzeXwH
🚀 Now in Observable Canvases: AI-powered text-to-SQL, directly in the SQL node. Generate and edit queries, then inspect and verify with clear visual diffs so there's never a doubt about what's happening with your code. Learn more and see the updates in action: observablehq.com/blog/draft-a...
Visual data exploration can uncover patterns and questions in business data. But big data can bring charts to a crawl, which disincentivizes exploration and hinders insight discovery. Learn how we deliver rich, performant charts in Observable Canvases 👇
Agropatterns relies on AI to process & uncover insights in crop monitoring data. When even small mistakes can be catastrophic for crop health, trust in AI outputs is critical. Learn how we keep analysts confident, and in control, with verifiable AI in Observable: buff.ly/tSofCVa
The features that define modern, high-impact data visualizations — like responsiveness, visual filtering, and extreme value handling — are often the hardest to build from scratch. In Observable Canvases, we’re democratizing advanced, interactive charts. Learn how 👇
We sat down with Observable Data Visualization Engineer Fil Rivière to talk all about maps. Read our interview for Fil's perspective on what makes maps meaningful, where spatial data viz is headed, and why he's hoping for a "slow cartography movement." Read more: buff.ly/9VdsetY
The nature of data analysis and visualization is changing rapidly, and data teams are being asked to deliver more insights, faster than ever. Register now for a webinar on Feb 4 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT unpacking these changes, and how your data team can adapt:
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AI can fast-track data analysis and visualization, but only if you can trust its outputs. In Observable Canvases, AI is fully verifiable every step of the way. Learn more: buff.ly/XscWHgt
AI is reshaping how we work with data. But, as Ben Welsh (Data Editor, Reuters) shared in our December webinar, AI won’t replace the creativity behind great graphics anytime soon.
Watch the recording for more insights from top data journalists: buff.ly/Y8ZrG0a
We ❤️ this Observable Notebook from @rreusser.bsky.social exploring yoga class attendance, with calendars and charts made with Observable Plot! Read Ricky's reflections, and see how they use a notebook import to repurpose an existing Plot component: buff.ly/nRync53
Happy 2026 from the Observable team!
With the start of the new year, we're reminded that time flies and there's always a need to understand how things change as it does. Learn about 8 charts that clarify patterns, reveal anomalies, and help you track performance with time series data👇
