Sankey diagram glossary
A Sankey diagram is built from four parts. Knowing their names makes the diagram easier to read, easier to build, and easier to talk about with whoever owns the numbers. Each entry below has its own page: what the part is, how it is drawn, and how it goes wrong.
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Open the editor and type your nodes one per row, with where each one flows and how much. The diagram draws itself as you type. Your work is saved automatically in your browser.
Create Your Sankey Diagram FreeThe four parts of a Sankey diagram
Every Sankey diagram, from a household budget to a national energy balance, uses the same vocabulary.
The diagram itself
For the definition of a Sankey diagram as a whole, how to read one, and how it differs from its close relative the alluvial diagram, QueryChart's Sankey library has the full pages.
Frequently asked questions
What are the parts of a Sankey diagram called?
Nodes (the bars where amounts arrive and leave), links or flows (the bands between nodes), flow values (the amount each link carries, which sets its width) and, when the diagram is arranged in columns, stages.
Is a link the same as a flow?
Yes. Charting libraries tend to say link; most readers say flow. Both mean the band that carries an amount from one node to the next.
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The editor opens with a starter Sankey diagram. Type your own nodes and amounts, and the diagram rebuilds itself as you type. No signup required to get started.
Create Your Sankey Diagram Free