In MATLAB, data visualization can be effectively achieved through various plotting functions such as bar plots and time series plots. A bar plot is typically used to display discrete data values with rectangular bars, where the length of each bar represents the magnitude of the corresponding data point, making it useful for comparing categories. On the other hand, time series plots are used to represent data points in a sequential order, often over time, with the x-axis representing time intervals and the y-axis showing the observed values. These plots are ideal for visualizing trends, patterns, and fluctuations in time-dependent data. MATLAB provides built-in functions like bar() for bar charts and plot() for time series, allowing users to customize the appearance and behavior of the plots for clear and informative visualizations.