Matplotlib Guide

This guide provides an overview of common Matplotlib features for creating visualizations in Python. For detailed documentation, refer to the Matplotlib Official Guide.

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1. plot(x, y)

• Description: Creates a line plot of y versus x.
• Parameters:
  • x: Sequence of x-coordinates.
  • y: Sequence of y-coordinates.
  • label (optional): Adds a label for the plot.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  x = [1, 2, 3, 4]
  y = [10, 20, 25, 30]
  plt.plot(x, y, label='Line 1')
  plt.legend()
  plt.show()
  

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2. scatter(x, y)

• Description: Creates a scatter plot of y versus x.
• Parameters:
  • x: Sequence of x-coordinates.
  • y: Sequence of y-coordinates.
  • color (optional): Marker color.
  • size (optional): Marker size.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  x = [1, 2, 3, 4]
  y = [10, 20, 25, 30]
  plt.scatter(x, y, color='red')
  plt.show()
  

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3. bar(x, height)

• Description: Creates a bar chart.
• Parameters:
  • x: Sequence of x-coordinates (categories).
  • height: Heights of the bars.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  categories = ['A', 'B', 'C']
  values = [10, 20, 15]
  plt.bar(categories, values)
  plt.show()
  

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4. hist(data, bins)

• Description: Plots a histogram to display the distribution of data.
• Parameters:
  • data: Sequence of data points.
  • bins (optional): Number of bins for the histogram.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  data = [1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5]
  plt.hist(data, bins=5)
  plt.show()
  

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5. pie(sizes)

• Description: Creates a pie chart.
• Parameters:
  • sizes: Data for the pie segments.
  • labels (optional): Labels for the segments.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  sizes = [10, 20, 30]
  labels = ['A', 'B', 'C']
  plt.pie(sizes, labels=labels)
  plt.show()
  

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6. xlabel(label) and ylabel(label)

• Description: Adds labels to the x-axis and y-axis.
• Parameters:
  • label: Text for the axis label.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6])
  plt.xlabel('X-axis')
  plt.ylabel('Y-axis')
  plt.show()
  

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7. title(label)

• Description: Adds a title to the plot.
• Parameters:
  • label: Text for the title.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6])
  plt.title('My Plot')
  plt.show()
  

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8. legend()

• Description: Displays a legend for labeled plots.
• Parameters: None (optional configuration through loc for position).
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], label='Line 1')
  plt.legend(loc='upper left')
  plt.show()
  

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9. savefig(filename)

• Description: Saves the current plot to a file.
• Parameters:
  • filename: Path or name of the file to save.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6])
  plt.savefig('my_plot.png')
  

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10. show()

• Description: Displays the plot.
• Parameters: None.
• Example:

  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6])
  plt.show()