Visualization guidelines agents can inspect and cite

---
id: direct-labels
title: Use direct labels
labels:
  - chart:bar
  - task:compare
  - quality:readability
---
 
## Label marks directly <!-- role: advice -->
Place labels next to compared values.
 
## Why it works <!-- role: reason -->
Direct labels reduce legend lookup work.
 
## Where it applies <!-- role: context -->
Use this for a small number of bars or series.
 
## When to keep a legend <!-- role: exceptions -->
Keep a legend when labels would crowd marks.
 
## Trade-off <!-- role: costs -->
Labels use plot space and may need manual placement.
 
## Common mistake <!-- role: mistakes -->
Label only the marks readers need to compare in a dense chart.
 
## Check the chart <!-- role: check -->
Can each value be read without matching color to a legend?
 
## Fix <!-- role: fix -->
Move labels beside marks and remove the legend.

[
  {
    "role": "advice",
    "title": "Advice",
    "content": "Label marks."
  },
  {
    "role": "reason",
    "title": "Reason",
    "content": "Less lookup."
  },
  {
    "role": "context",
    "title": "Context",
    "content": "Few series."
  },
  {
    "role": "exceptions",
    "title": "Exceptions",
    "content": "Crowded marks."
  },
  {
    "role": "costs",
    "title": "Costs",
    "content": "Uses space."
  },
  {
    "role": "mistakes",
    "title": "Mistakes",
    "content": "Avoid clutter."
  },
  {
    "role": "check",
    "title": "Check",
    "content": "Clear values?"
  },
  {
    "role": "fix",
    "title": "Fix",
    "content": "Move labels."
  }
]