A column chart displays data values as a set of vertical bars. Categories appear on the horizontal axis and values appear on the vertical axis. As with a bar chart, this layout is useful for displaying data side by side for easy comparison, as shown in the chart on the left in Figure 9‑2.

This chart type also supports a stacked or percent stacked subtype that shows the relationships of values in each category to the whole, as shown in the charts in the center and on the right in Figure 9‑2.