Parallel Coordinates Example

Parallel coordinates visualize multi-dimensional data by representing each dimension as a parallel axis, and drawing individual data records as lines connecting points on each axis. Line crossings indicate negative correlation, and different axis orderings may reveal different patterns of interest.

Vega JSON Specification <>

{
  "$schema": "https://vega.github.io/schema/vega/v5.json",
  "description": "Parallel coordinates plot showing 7 dimensions of automobile statistics.",
  "width": 700,
  "height": 400,
  "padding": 5,

  "config": {
    "axisY": {
      "titleX": -2,
      "titleY": 410,
      "titleAngle": 0,
      "titleAlign": "right",
      "titleBaseline": "top"
    }
  },

  "data": [
    {
      "name": "cars",
      "url": "data/cars.json",
      "format": {
        "type": "json",
        "parse": {"Year": "date:%Y-%m-%d"}
      },
      "transform": [
        { "type": "filter", "expr": "datum.Horsepower && datum.Miles_per_Gallon" },
        { "type": "formula", "as": "Year",
          "expr": "isNumber(datum.year) ? datum.year : year(datum.Year)" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "fields",
      "values": [
        "Cylinders",
        "Displacement",
        "Weight_in_lbs",
        "Horsepower",
        "Acceleration",
        "Miles_per_Gallon",
        "Year"
      ]
    }
  ],

  "scales": [
    {
      "name": "ord", "type": "point",
      "range": "width", "round": true,
      "domain": {"data": "fields", "field": "data"}
    },
    {
      "name": "Cylinders", "type": "linear",
      "range": "height", "zero": false, "nice": true,
      "domain": {"data": "cars", "field": "Cylinders"}
    },
    {
      "name": "Displacement", "type": "linear",
      "range": "height", "zero": false, "nice": true,
      "domain": {"data": "cars", "field": "Displacement"}
    },
    {
      "name": "Weight_in_lbs", "type": "linear",
      "range": "height", "zero": false, "nice": true,
      "domain": {"data": "cars", "field": "Weight_in_lbs"}
    },
    {
      "name": "Horsepower", "type": "linear",
      "range": "height", "zero": false, "nice": true,
      "domain": {"data": "cars", "field": "Horsepower"}
    },
    {
      "name": "Acceleration", "type": "linear",
      "range": "height", "zero": false, "nice": true,
      "domain": {"data": "cars", "field": "Acceleration"}
    },
    {
      "name": "Miles_per_Gallon", "type": "linear",
      "range": "height", "zero": false, "nice": true,
      "domain": {"data": "cars", "field": "Miles_per_Gallon"}
    },
    {
      "name": "Year", "type": "linear",
      "range": "height", "zero": false, "nice": true,
      "domain": {"data": "cars", "field": "Year"}
    }
  ],

  "axes": [
    {
      "orient": "left", "zindex": 1,
      "scale": "Cylinders", "title": "Cylinders",
      "offset": {"scale": "ord", "value": "Cylinders", "mult": -1}
    },
    {
      "orient": "left", "zindex": 1,
      "scale": "Displacement", "title": "Displacement",
      "offset": {"scale": "ord", "value": "Displacement", "mult": -1}
    },
    {
      "orient": "left", "zindex": 1,
      "scale": "Weight_in_lbs", "title": "Weight_in_lbs",
      "offset": {"scale": "ord", "value": "Weight_in_lbs", "mult": -1}
    },
    {
      "orient": "left", "zindex": 1,
      "scale": "Horsepower", "title": "Horsepower",
      "offset": {"scale": "ord", "value": "Horsepower", "mult": -1}
    },
    {
      "orient": "left", "zindex": 1,
      "scale": "Acceleration", "title": "Acceleration",
      "offset": {"scale": "ord", "value": "Acceleration", "mult": -1}
    },
    {
      "orient": "left", "zindex": 1,
      "scale": "Miles_per_Gallon", "title": "Miles_per_Gallon",
      "offset": {"scale": "ord", "value": "Miles_per_Gallon", "mult": -1}
    },
    {
      "orient": "left", "zindex": 1,
      "scale": "Year", "title": "Year", "format": "d",
      "offset": {"scale": "ord", "value": "Year", "mult": -1}
    }
  ],

  "marks": [
    {
      "type": "group",
      "from": {"data": "cars"},
      "marks": [
        {
          "type": "line",
          "from": {"data": "fields"},
          "encode": {
            "enter": {
              "x": {"scale": "ord", "field": "data"},
              "y": {
                "scale": {"datum": "data"},
                "field": {"parent": {"datum": "data"}}
              },
              "stroke": {"value": "steelblue"},
              "strokeWidth": {"value": 1.01},
              "strokeOpacity": {"value": 0.3}
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}