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Contrast

Our monochrome color palette adheres to the 3:1 AA contrast standard for graphical objects. This references the color to the chart background (white) as well as a 3:1 contrast between the colors. This is why we recommend 4px spacing between spacing on charts. the default data viz color palette (light mode) Our categorical color palette meets 3:1 against our chart background, but since they do not all meet 3:1 against each other, we require direct labeling and 4px spacing between colors.

Direct Labeling

There are three primary approaches for applying direct labeling in charts, each offering varying levels of visibility and user interaction depending on the complexity of the data.
  1. Direct labeling on values places the label directly on or adjacent to each data point. This approach provides immediate visibility and quick readability, making it ideal for dense datasets where users need to interpret values at a glance without additional interaction.
  2. Above labeling positions labels around the chart rather than directly on the data points. This method is useful when visual clarity or spacing is a concern, such as in cases where labels may overlap or obscure the chart elements. Above labeling maintains legibility while preserving the visual integrity of the chart.
A bar chart with direct labeling (#1)A bar chart with above labeling (#2)

Questions? Challenges?

Contact the Visual Design team on the #ask-vizd channel

Hover states

Hover State Tooltip: hows additional or detailed information only when a user hovers or focuses on a specific element. It helps keep the visualization clean and uncluttered while still providing access to precise data on demand.

Hover State Tooltip

Example of a tooltip A tooltip is a brief, informative message that appears when a user interacts with an element in a graphical user interface. Tooltips are small containers that appear on hover, showing extra details like values or labels for specific chart elements. They help reveal data insights without cluttering the visualization. (Anvil tooltip). Tooltips are the default overlay for data visualization messaging. They are used to show hover-based, non-interactive information. If you need interactive elements (e.g., buttons) or custom-styled content with colors or visuals, use a popover instead. Always be consistent by using the same overlay component throughout a given data set rather than mixing tooltips and popovers.
Note: When hovering over a data point, all other colors (besides the hovered one) should have 20% opacity to keep the focus on the selected element.
A donut chart with a hover stateA bar chart with a hover state
A line chart with a hover state

Questions? Challenges?

Contact the Visual Design team on the #ask-vizd channel
Last modified on January 23, 2026