Which of the following is a characteristic feature of a heat map?

A heat map is characterized by its use of color to represent data values, making option B the correct choice. In a heat map, colors are assigned to different ranges of data, allowing viewers to quickly identify patterns, trends, and areas of interest or concern within the displayed dataset. This visual representation is particularly effective for conveying information where comparative analysis is essential, as the color intensity can indicate magnitude or frequency.

Other features or characteristics that do not align with the core definition include a three-dimensional view, which is not a typical feature of heat maps since they primarily present data in two dimensions. The inclusion of numeric data tables is also not a defining characteristic of heat maps; while they may accompany visual data representations, heat maps focus on visualizing data through color rather than presenting it in numeric form. Lastly, heat maps are not limited to time series data; they can be used for a wide variety of data types and contexts, including geographical data, survey results, and more. Therefore, the defining feature of heat maps is their color-coding approach to represent differences in data values.