What distinguishes a bar chart from a histogram?

Bar charts and histograms serve different purposes in data visualization, and the distinction between them is fundamental for data representation. The correct choice highlights that bar charts compare distinct categories, which are represented as separate bars with gaps between them. This spacing indicates that the categories are discrete and not inherently related to each other.

In contrast, histograms depict the distribution of continuous data. The data is divided into intervals or bins, and the bars for each interval are adjacent to each other, with no gaps. This visual representation communicates that the data is continuous and shows how frequently values fall within specific ranges.

This understanding of the separation and representation of data types in bar charts and histograms is key when choosing the appropriate chart type for displaying information.