When we want to visually support value comparisons in table columns containing important data, we can use the data bars method. In this approach, the size of each value in a given column is represented by a bar displayed within the cell. There are two common ways to implement this: placing the bar behind the numeric value in the same column or displaying it in a separate adjacent column. If the bar is placed behind the value, pastel colors should be used to maintain readability; if it’s placed next to the value, more saturated colors are recommended.