---
id: bar-charts
title: Bar Charts
description: Bar charts are useful for visually comparing the number of events that have occurred.
slug: /help/docs/dashboards/panels/bar-charts/
canonical: https://www.sumologic.com/help/docs/dashboards/panels/bar-charts/
---
import useBaseUrl from '@docusaurus/useBaseUrl';
Bar charts are useful for visually comparing the number of events that have occurred, such as the type of error that occurs the most in your system. To create a Bar chart, use a search query that provides at least a few data points in the **Aggregates** tab.
For example, you'd use the following query to create a simple Bar chart:
```sumo
(error OR fail*) AND exception | count by _sourceCategory | sort by _count
```
which would produce results such as:
})
## Create a bar chart
To add a panel with a bar chart:
1. Create or open a Dashboard and click on **Add Panel > Time Series** or **Add Panel > Categorical**.
})
1. Provide a Metric or Log query and press **Enter** for it to run.
1. Once the query runs you will need to flip the chart type to **Bar**.
})
1. [Modify the chart](./modify-chart.md) as desired.
1. Click the **Add to Dashboard** button on the top right of the window to add the panel to your dashboard.
})