Data-rich interface patterns—metric cards, KPI grids, chart layouts, real-time updates. 8 patterns for building actionable dashboards.
Dashboard patterns help users monitor, analyze, and act on data. These patterns include metric cards (single KPIs), grid layouts (multiple metrics at glance), chart combinations (trends + comparisons), filtering systems (drill-down), real-time updates (live data), alert indicators (attention-grabbing), comparison views (period-over-period), and executive summaries (high-level insights). Good dashboards surface the right data at the right time without overwhelming users.
Grid layout of KPI cards showing key metrics at a glance, like Google Analytics overview or Stripe dashboard.
Dashboard where clicking metrics reveals detailed breakdowns with breadcrumb navigation to return to overview.
Multiple dashboard views organized in tabs (Overview, Sales, Traffic), like Stripe or Shopify admin.
Live activity stream showing recent events with auto-refresh, like Twitter analytics or server monitoring.
Dashboard comparing metrics side-by-side across time periods or segments (this month vs last, A vs B).
Dashboard with date range picker, export buttons (CSV, PDF), and filters for downloading data.