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distribution family
ridgeline
Multiple density curves stacked vertically (joy plot).
Each row shows the density distribution of a variable for one category, with x-axis shared. The eye reads ranking by row plus distribution shape per row.
When to use
Comparing distribution shapes across many categories where ranking + shape both matter.
When NOT to use
Audience is non-technical. Or fewer than 5 categories (use overlaid density lines).
Rhetorical roles
- distribute
- compare
Variants & related
Required primitives
- has_axis_titles
Optional primitives
- has_data_labels
- has_source_note
Common anti-patterns
- unfamiliar-encoding
Disambiguation rules
- Stacked filled curves with the same x-axis, one curve per row.
- Curves often overlap their neighbours (the "joy" effect).