Computer Graphics Diagram

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A diagram is a two-dimensional geometric symbolic representation of information according to some visualization technique. Sometimes, the technique uses a three-dimensional visualization which is then projected onto the two-dimensional surface. The word graph is sometimes used as a synonym for diagram.

Contents [hide] 1 Overview 2 Main diagram types 3 Specific diagram types 3.1 A–D 3.2 E–H 3.3 I–L 3.4 M–P 3.5 R–U 3.6 V–Z 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading

[edit] Overview

A diagram is a 2D geometric symbolic representation of information according to some visualization technique. Sometimes, the technique uses a 3D visualization which is then projected onto the 2D surface. The term diagram in common sense can have two meanings.

• visual information device : Like the term "illustration" the diagram is used as a collective term standing for the whole class of technical genres, including graphs, technical drawings and tables.^[1]
• specific kind of visual display : This is only the genre, that show qualitative data with shapes that are connected by lines, arrows, or other visual links.

In science you will find the term used in both ways. For example Anderson (1997) stated more general "diagrams are pictorial, yet abstract, representations of information, and maps, line graphs, bar charts, engineering blueprints, and architects' sketches are all examples of diagrams, whereas photographs and video are not".^[2] On the other hand Lowe (1993) defined diagrams as specifically "abstract graphic portrayals of the subject matter they represent".^[3]

In the specific sense diagrams and charts contrast computer graphics, technical illustrations, infographics, maps, and technical drawings, by show "abstract rather than literal representations of information".^[1] The essences of a diagram can be seen as:^[1]

• a form of visual formatting devices
• a display that do not show quantitative data, but rather relationships and abstract information
• with building blocks such as geometrical shapes connected by lines, arrows, or other visual links.

Or in Hall's (1996) words "diagrams are simplified figures, caricatures in a way, intended to convey essential meaning".^[4] These simplified figures are often based on set of rules. The basic shape according to White (1984) can be characterized in terms of "elegance, clarity, ease, pattern, simplicity, and validity"^[1]. The elegance for a start is determined by whether or not the diagram is "the simplest and most fitting solution to a problem".^[5]

[edit] Main diagram types

There are at least the following types of diagrams:

• Graph-based diagrams: these take a collection of items and relationships between them, and express them by giving each item a 2D position, while the relationships are expressed as connections between the items or overlaps between the items; examples of such techniques:

tree diagram network diagram flowchart Venn diagram existential graph

• Chart-like diagram techniques, which display a relationship between two variables that take either discrete or a continuous ranges of values; examples:

histogram bar chart pie chart function graph scatter plot

• Other types of diagrams, e.g.,

train diagram Tube map exploded view population density map Pioneer plaque

Thousands of diagram techniques exist. Some more examples follow.

[edit] Specific diagram types

[edit] A–D A Activity diagram used in UML and SysML B Bachman diagram Booch – used in software engineering Block diagram Block Definition Diagram (BDD) used in SysML Bubble Map - used in education Business & IT Diagram (B&IT) - used in business and IT modelling C Cartogram Category theory diagrams Cause-and-effect diagram Circuit diagram Class diagram – from UML Collaboration diagram – from UML 1.x Communication diagram – from UML 2.0 Commutative diagram Component diagram – from UML Composite structure diagram – from UML Concept map Constellation diagram Context diagram Contour diagram Cordier diagram Cross-functional flowchart D Database model diagram Data flow diagram Data structure diagram Dependency diagram Deployment diagram – from UML Dot and cross diagram Double bubble map - used in education List of modeling languages [edit] E–H E Entity-Relationship diagram (ERD) Event-driven process chain Euler diagram Eye diagram - a diagram of a received telecommunications signal Express-G Extended Functional Flow Block Diagram (EFFBD) F Family tree Feynman diagram Fusion diagram Free body diagram G Gantt chart – shows the timing of tasks or activities (used in project management) Grotrian diagram Goodman diagram - shows the fatigue data (examlpe: for a wind turbine blades) H Hasse diagram HIPO diagram[6] [edit] I–L I Internal Block Diagram (IBD) used in SysML IDEF0 IDEF1 (entity relations) Interaction Overview diagram – from UML Ishikawa diagram J Jackson diagram K Karnaugh map Kinematic diagram L Line of balance

[edit] M–P M Martin ERD Message Sequence Chart Mind map – used for learning, brainstorming, memory, visual thinking and problem solving N N2 Nassi–Shneiderman diagram or structogram – a representation for structured programming Nomogram O Object diagram – from UML P Package diagram from UML and SysML Parametric diagram from SysML PERT Petri net – shows the structure of a distributed system as a directed bipartite graph with annotations Piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) Phase diagram used to present solid/liquid/gas information Plant Diagram Pressure volume diagram used to analyse engines Pourbaix diagram Process flow diagram or PFD – used in chemical engineering Program structure diagram [edit] R–U R Radial Diagram Requirement Diagram Used in SysML Rich Picture S Sankey diagram - represents material, energy or cost flows with quantity proportional arrows in a process network. Sentence diagram -- represents the grammatical structure of a natural language sentence. Sequence diagram from UML and SysML SDL/GR diagram – Specification and Description Language. SDL is a formal language used in computer science. Smith chart Spider chart Spray diagram SSADM – Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (used in software engineering) State diagram are used for state machines in software engineering Swim lane Systems Biology Graphical Notation - a graphical notation used in diagrams of biochemical and cellular processes studied in Systems biology System context diagram System structure Systematic layout planning T Timing Diagram: Digital Timing Diagram Timing Diagram: UML Timing Diagram TQM Diagram U UML diagram – Unified Modeling Language (used in software engineering) Use case diagram – from UML and SysML [edit] V–Z V Value Stream Mapping Venn diagram Voronoi diagram W Warnier-Orr Y Yourdon-Coad – see Edward Yourdon, used in software engineering

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: diagrams

Look up diagram in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Chart
• Diagramming
• Diagrammatic reasoning
• List of graphical methods
• Mathematical diagram
• Plot (graphics)
• commons:Specific diagram types - gallery of many diagram types.
• commons:Commons:Diagram resources