What is the purpose of an area chart in spreadsheet modeling?

An area chart is primarily used to emphasize changes over time. This type of chart visually represents data by filling the area under the line, which allows viewers to easily see trends and patterns as they develop across a specified time frame. The filled area helps to highlight the cumulative total and the magnitude of change over that period, making it particularly effective for illustrating how a value increases or decreases over time.

While other chart types serve different purposes—for instance, bar charts are suited for comparing individual values or categories, and histograms are great for showing frequency distributions—the area chart excels in capturing the essence of trends and time series data. This ensures that viewers can quickly ascertain the direction and intensity of changes in the dataset over time.