# Using box plots


*Box plots*, also known as box and whisker plots, display data pooled from multiple sources into one visual, helping you make data-driven decisions. Use a box plot to visualize how data is distributed across an axis or over time, for example flights delayed over a 7-day time period. Typically, a box plot details information in quarters:
+ **Minimum** – The lowest data point excluding outliers.
+ **Maximum** – The highest data point excluding outliers.
+ **Median** – The middle value of the dataset.
+ **First Quartile** – The middle value between the smallest number and the median of the dataset. The first quartile doesn't include the minimum or the median.
+ **Third Quartile** – The middle value between the largest number and the median of the dataset. The third quartile doesn't include the maximum or the median.

*Outliers* are extreme data points that aren't included in the calculation of a box plot's key values. Because outliers are calculated separately, their data points don't appear immediately after a box plot is created. Box plots display up to 10,000 data points. If a dataset contains more than 10,000 data points, a warning appears at the upper-right corner of the visual.

Box plots support up to five metrics and one group-by, but don't render if duplicate metrics are supplied.

Box plots support some calculated fields, but not all. Any calculated field that uses a window function, for example `avgOver`, results in a SQL error.

Box plot visuals aren't compatible with MySQL 5.3 and earlier.

**To create a basic box plot visual**

1. Sign in to Amazon Quick at [https://quicksight.aws.amazon.com/](https://quicksight.aws.amazon.com/).

1. Open Quick and choose **Analyses** on the navigation pane at left.

1. Choose one of the following:
   + To create a new analysis, choose **New analysis** at upper right. For more information, see [Starting an analysis in Quick Sight](creating-an-analysis.md). 
   + To use an existing analysis, choose the analyses that you want to edit.

1. Choose **Add**, **Add visual**.

1. At lower left, choose the box plot icon from **Visual types**.

1. On the **Fields list** pane, choose the fields that you want to use for the appropriate field wells. Box plots require at least one unique measure field.

1. (Optional) Add drill-down layers by dragging one or more additional fields to the **Group/Color** field well. For more information about adding drill-downs, see [Adding drill-downs to visual data in Quick Sight](adding-drill-downs.md).

   To understand the features supported by box plots, see [Analytics formatting per type in Quick](analytics-format-options.md). For customization options, see [Formatting in Amazon Quick](formatting-a-visual.md).