---
title: "Graph Plots terminology"
canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/Shogun111/13207156/Graph%20Plots%20terminology"
format: markdown
---
The following definitions are used to explain creating and using graph plots.

> Macro (scroll-tablelayout)

| **Term** | **Definition** |
| --- | --- |
| Active channel | A channel that is either selected or pinned |
| Channel | A stream of data that can be added to a graph plot |
| Channel cache | The amount of channel data stored either in memory or disk. The **Cache memory limit** (configurable at  **Preferences**  >  **Channel Cache**  >  **Cache memory limit** ) controls the threshold when data is to be written to disk. The default size is 512 MB |
| Channel source | A selection that provides one or more data channels and includes:<br>- Vicon camera
- Prop, marker, or unlabeled reconstruction
- Subject or segment (labeling, solving or retargeting skeleton) |
| Channel type | A channel source may provide multiple data streams of different types, which may be selected from the dropdown menu on the Graph Plots toolbar |
| Component | One part of a channel data value |
| Dependent channel | <span style="color: #172b4d">A channel that is only available with a channel source selected (eg, object position)</span> |
| Frame number | A number that increments sequentially for each frame of system data received |
| Gap | A time period of missing channel data (eg, because tracking was interrupted) |
| Independent channel | A channel that is available without a channel source being selected (eg, <span style="color: #172b4d">DataStream Output Latency</span>) |
| Live mode | A mode that displays data from the connected live system |
| Pinning | This locks a channel on a graph plot even if the channel source is de-selected. |
| Review mode | A mode that displays data from the selected review clip |
| Sample | A set of channel component values, taken at a single point in time |
| Sample number | A number that increments sequentially for each channel sample received. Channels are sampled at the system frame rate, so the sample number is equal to the frame number. |
| Subplot | A subdivision of the graph plot containing one or more traces of the same type |
| Trace | The visual representation of a single component of a channel data stream on the graph plot |