Terminology

Database — A store of the organizations data. Usually a black box for anyone who doesn’t have the proper tools or skills to query it.

Dataset — A subset of the database(s), which typically answers an organizational need or interest. Datasets come in a form of a table, which can have multiple rows and columns, a single column, a single row, or even a single cell.

Query — A set of criterias, written in a query language (SQL as an example), aimed to extract a specific dataset.

Chart type — A visual way to represent a dataset that conduces better understanding of the data. Main chart types are bar charts, line charts, plot charts and pie charts.

Visualization — An implementation of a chart on a specific dataset. A single dataset can have several visualizations, each representing the dataset from a different perspective with a different chart.

Widget — A compact UI element that displays a information. In essence, widgets give a glimpse into a larger amount of information, allowing the user to ‘dive in’ for the rest on demand. In re:dash, widgets display compact versions of visualizations.

Dashboard — A page layout composed of multiple widgets, offering an overview of all the information related to a specific domain (in our case, an organizational operation).