grafana/docs/sources/panels/add-a-panel.md

+++ title = "Add a panel" weight = 100 +++

Add a panel

Panels allow you to show your data in visual form. This topic walks you through the most basic steps to build a panel.

1. Add a panel to a dashboard

1. Navigate to the dashboard you want to add a panel to.

2. Click the Add panel icon.

   

3. Click Add an empty panel.

Grafana creates an empty time series panel with your default data source selected.

2. Write a query

Each panel needs at least one query to display a visualization. You write queries in the Query tab of the panel editor. For more information about the Query tab, refer to [Queries]({{< relref "queries.md" >}}).

1. Choose a data source. In the first line of the Query tab, click the drop-down list to see all available data sources. This list includes all data sources you added. Refer to [Add a data source]({{< relref "../datasources/add-a-data-source.md" >}}) if you need instructions.
2. Write or construct a query in the query language of your data source. Options will vary. Refer to your specific [data source documentation]({{< relref "../datasources/_index.md" >}}) for specific guidelines.

3. Choose a visualization type

In the Visualization list, click a visualization type. Grafana displays a preview of your query results with that visualization applied.

For more information about individual visualizations, refer to [Visualizations options]({{< relref "visualizations/_index.md" >}}).

4. (Optional) Edit panel settings

While not required, most visualizations need some adjustment before they properly display the information that you need. Options are defined in the linked topics below.

• [Panel options]({{< relref "./panel-options.md" >}})
• [Visualization-specific options]({{< relref "./visualizations/_index.md" >}})
• [Standard options]({{< relref "./standard-options.md" >}})
• [Thresholds]({{< relref "./thresholds.md" >}})
• [Value mappings]({{< relref "./value-mappings.md" >}})
• [Data links]({{< relref "../linking/data-links.md" >}})
• [Field overrides]({{< relref "./field-overrides.md" >}})

5. Apply changes and save

Save the dashboard. Either press Ctrl/Cmd+S or click Save in the upper right corner of the screen.

Your options vary depending on the changes you made and whether or not it is a new dashboard. We recommend you add a note to describe your changes before you click Save. Notes are very helpful if you need to revert the dashboard to a previous version.

What next?

Our Grafana Fundamentals tutorial is a great place to start, or you can learn more about Grafana by reading one of the documentation topics linked below:

• Learn more about [panel editor]({{< relref "panel-editor.md" >}}) options.
• Add more [queries]({{< relref "queries.md" >}}).
• [Transform]({{< relref "transformations/_index.md" >}}) your data.
• Set up an [alert]({{< relref "../alerting/_index.md" >}}).
• Create [templates and variables]({{< relref "../variables/_index.md" >}}).