What does a heat map visually represent?

A heat map visually represents data in a two-dimensional format where colors are used to indicate the magnitude of values within a dataset. This allows for quick and intuitive understanding of patterns, trends, and variations across the data. Different colors typically correspond to different ranges of values, making it easy to detect areas of concentration, correlation, or outliers at a glance.

For instance, in a heat map displaying sales performance across various regions, areas with higher sales might be represented with warmer colors like red or orange, while lower sales areas could be shown in cooler colors like blue or green. This visual representation is particularly effective in identifying hotspots or gaps in data, making it a powerful tool for data analysis and visualization in fields such as business, healthcare, and research.

In contrast, options that mention changes over time, advanced statistical analysis tools, or data sorting and filtering do not accurately describe the primary function of a heat map. Instead, they pertain to different methods or visualizations related to data analysis but do not encapsulate the essence of what heat maps are designed to convey.