You can also refer to the web links given below. This is a good question to consider. A table is basically text set in a special format. This means it only differs slightly from a narrative of the results. It is always preferable to summarize your data in a figure because it provides a good visual stimulus for the reader.
Figures also make it easier to spot trends or patterns.
There are two types of figures commonly used in research papers, bar graphs and line graphs. Both are used in specific instances. Line graphs are used when the data collected are continuous or show a trend. For example, the data collected by Delong et al. The same amphipods were measured each week.