Line chart

Use a line chart for a time series or any ordered x axis where the shape of change matters.

Source

```chart
type: line
title: Monthly company mentions
data:
  inline:
    - { month: "2026-04", company: Fieldwork, mentions: 1120 }
    - { month: "2026-05", company: Fieldwork, mentions: 1340 }
    - { month: "2026-06", company: Fieldwork, mentions: 1580 }
    - { month: "2026-04", company: Northstar, mentions: 2210 }
    - { month: "2026-05", company: Northstar, mentions: 2180 }
    - { month: "2026-06", company: Northstar, mentions: 2060 }
encoding: { x: month, y: mentions, color: company }
```

Fields that matter

• type: line with encoding.x for the ordered axis and encoding.y for the measure
• encoding.color splits one series per category
• encoding.y2 adds a second value axis when units differ
• axes.x and axes.y set label, format, unit, and axes.y.min / axes.y.max fix the value axis
• style.curve is monotone (default), linear, step, step_before or step_after
• style.curve: step_after holds a value until the next observation
• style.ratio sets the width to height ratio (16:9 by default)

Primary values appear automatically in complete groups across the shown series: last values first, then first values, then extremes. The total is at most five, or three below 480 px of plot width. If all last-value labels cannot fit clearly, none are drawn. Series names remain separate.

Interactions

• Hover or focus a point to read its value; the crosshair snaps to the nearest observation.
• Click a legend entry to target or toggle a series when the chart has several.
• Zoom and pan on the time axis with brush, wheel, pinch, keys or double-click; Escape or reset returns to the full range.
• Open the Table view, Download PNG or CSV, or Expand the chart.