> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.custral.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Area Chart

> Trend lines with shaded areas for cumulative comparisons.

<Frame caption="An area chart, the same series, filled to show volume.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/custral/NGCdls_pt-1YDx5S/images/charts/area.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=NGCdls_pt-1YDx5S&q=85&s=48c104f8f36f1d16a15f174aa879d0d6" alt="An area chart, the same series, filled to show volume." width="760" height="420" data-path="images/charts/area.png" />
</Frame>

## When to use

Area charts shine when you want to show how a value (or a few values) accumulates or evolves over time, and you want the magnitude (not just the trend) to feel visceral. The shaded area communicates volume.

## Required data shape

* **X axis**: a date or ordered numeric property.
* **Y axis**: a numeric or aggregated property.
* **Group (optional)**: a select / status property; each group gets its own stacked layer.

## Configuration

| Setting  | What it does                                                               |
| -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| X-axis   | The date or ordered property plotted along the horizontal axis.            |
| Y-axis   | The numeric value (or aggregation) the shaded area represents.             |
| Group by | An optional property whose values become separate stacked layers.          |
| Stacking | How layers stack: default (overlaid), stacked, or 100% (percent of total). |

## Limitations

* Stacking with more than \~6 groups becomes unreadable. Use a Top-N filter.
* Sparse data series produce visual gaps; switch to a Line chart if you need precise endpoints.


## Related topics

- [Composite Chart](/bi/reporting/charts/composite.md)
- [Bubble Chart](/bi/reporting/charts/bubble.md)
- [Line Chart](/bi/reporting/charts/line.md)
- [Bar Chart](/bi/reporting/charts/bar.md)
- [Chart drill-down](/bi/reporting/drill-down.md)