Time series visualizations are the default way to show the variations of a set of data values over time. Each data point is matched to a timestamp and this _time series_ is displayed as a graph. The visualization can render series as lines, points, or bars and it's versatile enough to display almost any type of [time-series data](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/<GRAFANA_VERSION>/fundamentals/timeseries/).
You can migrate from the legacy Graph visualization to the time series visualization. To migrate, open the panel and click the **Migrate** button in the side pane.
A time series visualization displays an x-y graph with time progression on the x-axis and the magnitude of the values on the y-axis. This visualization is ideal for displaying large numbers of timed data points that would be hard to track in a table or list.
You can use the time series visualization if you need track:
- Temperature variations throughout the day
- The daily progress of your retirement account
- The distance you jog each day over the course of a year
Time series visualizations require time-series data—a sequence of measurements, ordered in time, and formatted as a table—where every row in the table represents one individual measurement at a specific time. Learn more about [time-series data](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/<GRAFANA_VERSION>/fundamentals/timeseries/).
The dataset must contain at least one numeric field, and in the case of multiple numeric fields, each one is plotted as a new line, point, or bar labeled with the field name in the tooltip.
### Example 1
In the following example, there are three numeric fields represented by three lines in the chart:
If the time field isn't automatically detected, you might need to convert the data to a time format using a [data transformation](ref:data-transformation).
### Example 2
The time series visualization also supports multiple datasets. If all datasets are in the correct format, the visualization plots the numeric fields of all datasets and labels them using the column name of the field.
### Example 3
If you want to more easily compare events between different, but overlapping, time frames, you can do this by using a time offset while querying the compared dataset:
When you add the offset, the resulting visualization makes the datasets appear to be occurring at the same time so that you can compare them more easily.
You can [link alert rules](ref:link-alert) to time series visualizations in the form of annotations to observe when alerts fire and are resolved. In addition, you can create alert rules from the **Alert** tab within the [panel editor](ref:panel-editor-alerts).
Use the **Graph styles > Transform** [override property](#field-overrides) to transform series values without affecting the values shown in the tooltip, context menu, or legend. Choose from the following transform options:
The **Graph styles > Fill below to** [override property](#field-overrides) fills the area between two series. When you configure the property, select the series for which you want the fill to stop.
The following example shows three series: Min, Max, and Value. The Min and Max series have **Line width** set to 0. Max has a **Fill below to** override set to Min, which fills the area between Max and Min with the Max line color.
- **Auto** - Automatically assigns the y-axis to the series. When there are two or more series with different units, Grafana assigns the left axis to the first unit and the right axis to the units that follow.
- **Left** - Display all y-axes on the left side.
- **Right** - Display all y-axes on the right side.
- **Hidden** - Hide all axes. To selectively hide axes, [Add a field override](ref:add-a-field-override) that targets specific fields.
Set a **Soft min** or **soft max** option for better control of y-axis limits. By default, Grafana sets the range for the y-axis automatically based on the dataset.
**Soft min** and **soft max** settings can prevent small variations in the data from being magnified when it's mostly flat. In contrast, hard min and max values help prevent obscuring useful detail in the data by clipping intermittent spikes past a specific point.
To define hard limits of the y-axis, set standard min/max options. For more information, refer to [Configure standard options](ref:configure-standard-options).
| [Bar alignment](#bar-alignment) | Set the position of the bar relative to a data point. |
| Bar width factor | Set the width of the bar relative to minimum space between data points. A factor of 0.5 means that the bars take up half of the available space between data points. A factor of 1.0 means that the bars take up all available space. |
Choose whether to display your time-series data as lines, bars, or points. You can use overrides to combine multiple styles in the same graph. Choose from the following:
Choose a gradient mode to control the gradient fill, which is based on the series color. To change the color, use the standard color scheme field option. For more information, refer to [Color scheme](ref:color-scheme).
- **None** - No gradient fill. This is the default setting.
- **Opacity** - An opacity gradient where the opacity of the fill increases as y-axis values increase.
- **Hue** - A subtle gradient that's based on the hue of the series color.
- **Scheme** - A color gradient defined by your [Color scheme](ref:color-scheme). This setting is used for the fill area and line. For more information about scheme, refer to [Scheme gradient mode](#scheme-gradient-mode).
The **Gradient mode** option located under the **Graph styles** section has a mode called **Scheme**. When you enable **Scheme**, the line or bar receives a gradient color defined from the selected **Color scheme**.
If the **Color scheme** is set to **From thresholds (by value)** and **Gradient mode** is set to **Scheme**, then the line or bar color changes as it crosses the defined thresholds.
- **Solid** - Display a solid line. This is the default setting.
- **Dash** - Display a dashed line. When you choose this option, a list appears for you to select the length and gap (length, gap) for the line dashes. Dash spacing is 10, 10 by default.
- **Dots** - Display dotted lines. When you choose this option, a list appears for you to select the gap (length = 0, gap) for the dot spacing. Dot spacing is 0, 10 by default.
Set whether Grafana stacks or displays series on top of each other. Be cautious when using stacking because it can create misleading graphs. To read more about why stacking might not be the best approach, refer to [The issue with stacking](https://www.data-to-viz.com/caveat/stacking.html). Choose from the following:
The stacking group option is only available as an override. For more information about creating an override, refer to [Configure field overrides](ref:configure-field-overrides).
Set the position of the bar relative to a data point. In the examples below, **Show points** is set to **Always** which makes it easier to see the difference this setting makes. The points don't change, but the bars change in relationship to the points. Choose from the following:
