In graphing, which axis typically represents the loss scale?

In the context of graphing optical fiber data, the Y-axis typically represents the loss scale. This is because loss measurements, such as signal attenuation or optical power loss, are often displayed to illustrate how the performance of the fiber changes with distance or other variables.

By placing loss on the Y-axis, it allows for a clear visualization of how signal strength diminishes as the distance increases, or in relation to other influencing factors like wavelength or temperature. This helps technicians and engineers easily interpret the data and understand the efficiency of the optical system being analyzed.

The other axes serve different purposes; the X-axis usually represents the distance or wavelength, while the Z-axis is not commonly used in traditional 2D graphs and typically relates to three-dimensional visualizations. The time-axis may be utilized in specific scenarios, such as for event-based analysis, but it does not apply to basic loss measurements in fiber optics.