GoldenVizR checks charts against 25 practical visualization rules inspired by The 25 Golden Rules of Data Viz course at goldenviz.org.
The rules are grouped into three families:
| Rule | What GoldenVizR checks |
|---|---|
| 1 Clear title | Whether the chart has a meaningful title that names the subject or message. |
| 2 Axis labels | Whether x and y axes are labeled clearly enough to understand values and units. |
| 3 Missing values and gaps | Whether missing data or visible gaps are detected in the plotted data. |
| 4 Legend clarity | Whether mapped color, fill, shape, or other legend aesthetics have usable legend text. |
| 5 Source and context | Whether a caption, subtitle, or source gives enough context for interpretation. |
| 6 Annotation for key message | Whether obvious gaps, missing values, or key-message needs are supported by annotation. |
| Rule | What GoldenVizR checks |
|---|---|
| 7 Readable text | Whether explicit text sizes are likely to remain readable. |
| 8 Accessible color choices | Whether the number of encoded colors is likely to remain distinguishable. |
| 9 Avoid clutter | Whether layer count, mark count, and geom variety suggest unnecessary clutter. |
| 10 Grid and guide balance | Whether grid and guide styling is balanced rather than heavy or absent when needed. |
| 11 Consistent formatting | Whether scale and formatting metadata are internally consistent. |
| 12 Appropriate chart type | Whether the selected geom is plausible for the mapped data, such as avoiding lines over unordered categories. |
| 13 Readable scale labels | Whether axis and scale labels are present and readable. |
| 14 Overplotting management | Whether dense point layers may require transparency, aggregation, jitter, or binning. |
| 15 Direct labeling when useful | Whether direct labels could reduce legend lookup for small multi-series charts. |
| 16 Visual hierarchy | Whether title and text signals create a clear visual hierarchy. |
| Rule | What GoldenVizR checks |
|---|---|
| 17 Truthful scale | Whether scale choices appear truthful for the chart type. |
| 18 No distorted baseline | Whether bar, column, or area charts preserve a zero baseline when required. |
| 19 Avoid misleading encodings | Whether high-risk encodings, such as area or size mappings, may mislead. |
| 20 Handle outliers honestly | Whether numeric outliers are present and whether they appear acknowledged. |
| 21 Proportional areas | Whether area-like encodings are used proportionally. |
| 22 Uncertainty when needed | Whether uncertainty layers such as ribbons, error bars, or smoothing intervals are present when needed. |
| 23 Avoid cherry picking | Whether limited scales without context may hide relevant data selection. |
| 24 Respect data granularity | Whether the visual form respects the data granularity, such as avoiding connected lines for unordered categories. |
| 25 Neutral framing | Whether title and subtitle avoid loaded or manipulative framing words. |
The same rule order is available from R:
## id family rule
## 1 R1 Completeness Clear title
## 2 R2 Completeness Axis labels
## 3 R3 Completeness Missing values and gaps
## 4 R4 Completeness Legend clarity
## 5 R5 Completeness Source and context
## 6 R6 Completeness Annotation for key message
## 7 R7 Readability Readable text
## 8 R8 Readability Accessible color choices
## 9 R9 Readability Avoid clutter
## 10 R10 Readability Grid and guide balance
## 11 R11 Readability Consistent formatting
## 12 R12 Readability Appropriate chart type
## 13 R13 Readability Readable scale labels
## 14 R14 Readability Overplotting management
## 15 R15 Readability Direct labeling when useful
## 16 R16 Readability Visual hierarchy
## 17 R17 Integrity Truthful scale
## 18 R18 Integrity No distorted baseline
## 19 R19 Integrity Avoid misleading encodings
## 20 R20 Integrity Handle outliers honestly
## 21 R21 Integrity Proportional areas
## 22 R22 Integrity Uncertainty when needed
## 23 R23 Integrity Avoid cherry picking
## 24 R24 Integrity Respect data granularity
## 25 R25 Integrity Neutral framing