A Sankey diagram is a visual representation of data flow or energy flow between different entities. It uses arrows and proportional widths to show the quantity of flow from one entity to another.
Sankey diagrams are useful for understanding complex systems or processes and identifying where the majority of the flow is going. They are also effective for comparing different scenarios or variations within a system.
The key elements of a Sankey diagram include nodes, which represent the entities or categories, and the flows, which represent the connections or relationships between the nodes. The widths of the flows represent the quantities of flow between the nodes.
A Sankey diagram is different from other types of charts because it focuses on the flow or movement of data or energy rather than just the values or quantities. It also allows for multiple flows to be shown and compared at once.
Sankey diagrams are commonly used in fields such as engineering, environmental science, economics, and data analysis. They are also becoming increasingly popular in business and marketing for visualizing customer flow or conversion rates.