# Powerful (but Easy) Data Visualization with the Graph Gem (Extended Edition)

> Last updated: 2011-09-29

Many projects involve large datasets. While humans are master pattern
matchers, trying to find patterns and issues by looking at reams of
text is hard. Sometimes you just need the 30,000 foot view but
creating diagrams by hand is time consuming and prone to error. The
graph gem makes it quick and easy to create visualizations of your
data. In this talk, we'll learn how to use nokogiri and graph to get
data out of an XML file and into a format where you can see
relationships and patterns. We'll also see how color coding and
clustering can emphasize the patterns in your data. Many of the
examples will come from my work with adaptive education apps.