The Plot-Data Interface in Statistical Graphics

Abstract

Statistical software systems include modules for manipulating data sets, model fitting, and graphics. Because plots display data, and models are fit to data, both the model-fitting and graphics modules depend on the data. Today's statistical environments allow the analyst to choose or even build a suitable data structure for storing the data and to implement new kinds of plots. The multiplicity problem caused by many plot varieties and many data representations is avoided by constructing a plot-data interface. The interface is a convention by which plots communicate with data sets, allowing plots to be independent of the actual data representation. This article describes the components of such a plot-data interface. The same strategy may be used to deal with the dependence of model-fitting procedures on data.