Which graph is commonly used for illustrating values for categories or for discontinuous data?

A bar graph is commonly utilized for illustrating values associated with categories or for presenting discontinuous data because it visually represents different categories as separate bars. Each bar corresponds to a specific category, allowing for easy comparison of the values among those categories. The lengths or heights of the bars indicate the magnitude of the data for each category, making it straightforward to discern differences and trends at a glance.

In contrast, a line graph is typically used to show trends over a continuous range, such as time. Pie charts are effective for displaying parts of a whole, rather than comparing separate categories. Area graphs are similar to line graphs but fill the area beneath the line, primarily emphasizing the volume of data changes over time, rather than categorical values. Thus, bar graphs are most suitable when the goal is to compare distinct categories of data.