An error bar plot is a useful tool for showing the estimated error (uncertainty) in the dependent variable and, optionally, the independent variable in a standard X-Y plot.

Example plots from our Graph Gallery
[click on the image to see original graph]

XY Error Bar Graphs

XY Error Bar Graph Example

The most common error bar plot is one in which the errors are in the y values. This type of plot is built into Origin and is called a Y Error Plot.

An error bar plot in which the errors occur in both the x and y values is also included with Origin. This graph type is referred to as an XY Error Plot.

When plotting error bars, Origin supports the display of both symmetric or asymmetric error bars about each data point.

Additional error bar options include the ability to change the error bar color, cap width, and line width. You can even apply your error bar settings to all other error bar data plots in the selected layer (panel).

An XY Error Bar Graph is shown here. The graph was submitted by an Origin user.

Additional Information

Both of Origin's built-in Error Bar Graph templates were created using a Scatter plot as the basis for the plot. However, many of Origin's standard plots (e.g. line, line & symbol, as well as column/bar) have the ability to include error bar plots.

To learn more about the customizations that can be made to Origin's built-in Error Bar graphs, click on one of the following links:

Scatter plot details...*
Line plot details...*
Line & Symbol plot details...*