Report charts versus dashboard widgets
Key Takeaway
A report chart shows one chart above one report's results. A dashboard shows data from several reports at once, because different widgets can use different source reports.
A report chart is a single chart that sits at the top of one report. A dashboard widget is one visual block on a dashboard. You need to know how they differ so you can pick the right tool when a user asks for a visual of their data.
Report chart versus dashboard widget
| Report chart | Dashboard widget | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it appears | Just above the report table, so a reader sees the chart and the report results in one view | On a dashboard, side by side with other widgets |
| How many there are | A single chart at the top of each report | Many widgets on a dashboard |
| What it shows | A visual for one report | Rich text, an image, or data from one source report |
If users want a visual for one report and don't need a dashboard...
You should use a report chart.
If users want a graphical view of data from several reports at once...
You should use a dashboard, because different widgets on the same dashboard can use different source reports.