Visualizing Sets and Set-typed Data: State-of-the-Art and Future Challenges

A variety of data analysis problems can be modelled by defining multiple sets over a collection of elements and analyzing the relations between these sets. Despite their simple concept, visualizing sets is a non-trivial problem due to the large number of possible relations between them. We provide a systematic overview of state-of-the-art techniques for visualizing different kinds of set relations. We classify these techniques into 7 main categories according to the visual representations they use and the tasks they support. We compare the categories to provide guidance for choosing an appropriate technique for a given problem. Finally, we identify challenges in this area that need further research and propose possible directions to address these challenges.