What type of chart is used to represent categorical data with rectangular bars?

A bar chart is specifically designed to represent categorical data, featuring rectangular bars that can be oriented vertically or horizontally. The length of each bar corresponds to the value or frequency of the category it represents, making it easy to compare different categories at a glance. This visual representation allows for clear distinctions between groups, which is particularly useful in data analysis, as it can effectively display trends, distributions, and comparisons among different categories.

Line charts, on the other hand, are primarily used for displaying data points over time, emphasizing trends and changes within a continuous variable. Pie charts represent parts of a whole and are limited to showing proportions within a single categorical variable, thus not ideal for comparing multiple categories side by side. Heatmaps use color gradients to illustrate relationships or density in data but do not provide the straightforward comparison offered by bar charts for categorical data. Therefore, the use of a bar chart is most appropriate for displaying and comparing categorical data in a clear and intuitive manner.