the study of the visual representation of data, meaning &"information&" which has been abstracted in some schematic form, including attributes or variables for the units of information
a term used to describe the use of graphical displays to summarize and present information about a data set. applies pattern recognition, spatial awareness &  aesthetics
refers to the techniques used to communicate data or information by encoding it as visual objects (e.g., points, lines or bars) contained in graphics.