BTA Charts
ChartsIntensity & Density

Packed Bubble

Display categorical data as circles sized by a measure, arranged using a force-directed simulation. Optionally cluster bubbles by a legend field to reveal group patterns. Ideal for showing relative magnitudes in a visually engaging, non-axis layout.

Examples

When to Use

  • Comparing magnitudes across categories without axis context
  • Showing market share, population, or budget breakdowns
  • Highlighting outliers and the relative scale between items
  • Creating an engaging visual for dashboards and presentations

Data Roles

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Settings

Bubbles

Min Bubble Size

number

Minimum bubble radius in pixels (10–30).

Default: 15

Max Bubble Size

number

Maximum bubble radius in pixels (40–100).

Default: 60

Show Labels

boolean

Display category labels inside bubbles.

Default: true

Cluster by Category

boolean

Group bubbles by legend/category using force simulation.

Default: true

Label Sizing

Label Size Mode

dropdown

Auto scales text with bubble size; Fixed uses a constant font size.

Default: auto

Label Font Size

number

Font size when using fixed mode (6–24).

Default: 12

Min Label Font Size

number

Minimum font size for auto mode (6–14).

Default: 8

Max Label Font Size

number

Maximum font size for auto mode (10–24).

Default: 16

Common settings like Legend, Tooltip, Color Scheme, and Small Multiples are covered in Shared Concepts.

Tips & Best Practices

  • Enable "Cluster by Category" to group related bubbles together using force simulation
  • Use auto label sizing to scale text proportionally with bubble radius — switch to fixed for uniform labels
  • Packed bubbles work best with 5–50 items; beyond that, small bubbles become hard to read

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