What type of graphic is used alongside drawings, charts, and diagrams?

The appropriate choice in this context is illustrations. Illustrations often accompany textual content, providing visual representation to concepts that may be complex or abstract in nature. They can enhance understanding by adding clarity and context to the information being presented. Illustrations can be drawings, paintings, or any form of visual art used to supplement the described ideas, making them particularly effective in conveying messages where pure text might fall short.

Photographs, while they capture real-life images, serve a different purpose and are not typically categorized alongside drawings or charts in terms of representation and design clarity. Animations add movement and are more dynamic, which shifts them away from static graphical elements like diagrams. Icons represent concepts or actions but are often simpler and more abstract, serving specific functional uses rather than providing detailed visual explanations. Therefore, illustrations are the category that aligns best with the complementary role they play alongside drawings, charts, and diagrams in graphic design.