Inf@Vis!
The Digital Magazine of InfoVis.net

Parallel coordinates plot. Each dimension is represented in an axis parallel to those of the remaining dimensions. Each element (equivalent to a "point" in 2D or 3D) is depicted as a broken line joining the values it takes for every dimension. In this plot the lines are dotted which reduces occlusion to a certain extent. Source: As can be seen in the CERN (Centre Europeene pour la Recherche Nucleaire) website for the ROOT Data Analysis system. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Parallel coordinates, mainly due to Alfred Inselberg, among others, constitute  a relatively recent representation system (ca. 1981). Their objective is to solve the problem of representing multidimensional data sets.  They are based on representing each dimension as a vertical scale parallel to all the others. Each element of the data set corresponds to a zigzag line joining the specific values of each one of its variables. This is equivalent to the "point" in a 2 or 3-D representation. 

At first glance it could seem a complex and even confusing visualization, despite its high conceptual simplicity. Nevertheless an adequate use of the visual variables (colour, transparency...) and of interaction turn them into a powerful tool.

The fact that the space we are immersed in is (at least apparently) 3-dimensional makes the representation of multidimensional systems difficult. In a multidimensional system the number of variables that define each of its elements is greater than 3 --see the definition of dimension in the glossary). The representation is increasingly difficult with the higher number of dimensions....

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