The purpose of this chapter was to give an overview of several architectures available for creating chart visualizations. It must be understood that the architectures presented here are by no means exclusive to the options available to developers working within the Google API framework or even with the Visualization API. Rather it is more useful to view the preceding overview as of the most common architectures that can be used as a starting point for chart development. The integration capabilities are provided by Google enable creativity, but can also be limiting due to confusion of how and when to use combinations of methods. Missed opportunities to visualize data creatively can be common when there is a lack of understanding that two or more methods may need to be incorporated in order to provide the desired solution.

All visualizations, regardless of the tools used to create them, follow the same methodology. This methodology is inclusive of naming hierarchy as well as application structure. It is also the same or similar to other Google APIs and very often third-party API conventions. Basic understanding of recommended uses for the various capabilities of the Visualization API and partnering Google applications will help the developer make informed design decisions. Using the more familiar applications of Spreadsheets and Fusion Tables, and discussion on individual API charts are the topics of the next chapter.