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Symbolic Representation

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Encyclopedia of Database Systems
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Synonyms

Symbolic graphic; Symbol graph; Symbol plot

Definition

A written character or mark used to represent something; a letter, figure, or sign conventionally standing for some object, process etc. (Oxford English Dictionary). Examples are the figures denoting the planets, signs of the zodiac, etc. in astronomy; the letters and other characters denoting elements, etc. in chemistry, quantities, operations, etc. in mathematics, the faces of a crystal in crystallography.

In data visualization, the use of symbols allows the representation of multivariate data items, where each variate contributes to the symbol. The set of symbols may be displayed in an array, superimposed on coordinates to put extra information on a point plot or, if appropriate, on a geographical map.

When symbolic representations of information is used as a tool for thought or a form of communication, one distinguishes between abstract symbols where the graphical units are shapes formed by lines, and areas and...

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Recommeded Reading

  1. Bertin J. Semiology of Graphics (translation by W.J. Berg), University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI, 1983.

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  2. R. and Easterby H. (eds.). Zwaga Information Design, The Design and Evaluation of Signs and Printed Material, Wiley, London, 1984.

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  3. Harris R.L. Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999.

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  4. Tufte E.R. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Graphics Press, Cheshire, CT, 1983.

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Hinterberger, H. (2009). Symbolic Representation. In: LIU, L., ÖZSU, M.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_1382

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