A heatmap is an effective way of providing graphical representation of data in two dimensions and displaying different factors using colors. It is an effective visual aid that conveys statistical or data-driven information quickly and easily. Heatmaps are often used when only preliminary information is available or when the big picture needs to be highlighted. An example of this is their use in website mapping to show user participation in regards to pageviews and clicks. The rise of heatmaps in popularity occurred shortly after the recession that began in 2008.

Heatmaps can be used for various purposes, such as to examine relationships between variables or to show trends or patterns. People often use heatmaps to identify opportunities for improvement or to make better sense of complex data from multiple sources. Companies utilize heatmaps to improve communication between teams and visualize data in a meaningful way. This is especially useful in showcasing user engagement and analytics. Heatmaps have become an invaluable tool to harness the power of data by providing a graphical representation of the relationships between different pieces of data.

Heatmaps are typically used to depict the data with the least amount of statistical manipulation. A heatmap may be used to simply indicate where the data lies within a certain range or to provide a graphical representation of the correlation between different data points. Heatmaps also provide insight into areas that need attention or improvement, quickly conveying the data in a meaningful way. Heatmaps are used to uncover trends and spot outliers, thus allowing the viewer to gain a better understanding of the data.

In conclusion, heatmaps provide a fast and interactive way to present and understand the data available. With their popularity increasing, due to the recession of 2008, heatmaps have become a valuable visual tool for data visualization, showcasing relationships and trends. Many companies are utilizing heatmaps to make better sense of complex data from multiple sources and to improve communication and collaboration between teams.