Raincloud Plot

Use this page as a convenience comparison guide for raincloud-style displays, not as a claim that the current product exposes a dedicated raincloud chart.

Figure purpose

Raincloud plot is a convenient way to think about one composite display that combines a distribution shape, a compact summary, and visible points. In practice, that usually means a violin-like layer, a box-style summary, and individual observations shown together.

This page is a guidance page, not a claim that the current product exposes one dedicated raincloud renderer.

When to use or avoid

Use this page when you want to understand why people ask for raincloud-style displays in group comparison work. It can be a helpful mental model when you want to compare shape, spread, and visible observations in one place.

Avoid reading this page as proof that the current app supports raincloud as a first-class chart type. Right now, the safer interpretation is that nearby figures can cover parts of the same need.

Required columns

  • Conceptually, raincloud-style displays need a grouping variable and a numeric outcome.
  • In the current docs set, that requirement is still conceptual because no dedicated supported chart contract was confirmed.

Raincloud-style thinking is most useful in the same places where Box Plot, Violin Plot, and Strip Plot are already relevant. Those pages describe confirmed figure surfaces more directly than this one does.

Alternative figures

  • Use Violin Plot when distribution shape is the main priority.
  • Use Box Plot for a simpler summary of spread and center.
  • Use Strip Plot when visible individual observations matter most.
  • If you need one page to understand current support limits, read Known Limitations.

TODO (Phase02+)

  • Replace this guidance page with an implementation-backed figure page only if a dedicated raincloud chart type or renderer is added.