Matplotlib: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Library for creating visualizations in Python}}

'''Matplotlib''' is a [[Plotter|plotting]] [[Library (computer science)|library]] for [[Python programming language|Python]] which uses [[Syntax#Syntax in computer science|syntax]] similar to [[MATLAB]]. It was written by John Hunter.

{{Infobox software

| name = Matplotlib

| logo = Matplotlib logo.svg

| logo size = 300px

| screenshot = File:Mpl screenshot figures and code.png

| caption = Screenshot of Matplotlib plots and code

| collapsible =

| author = [[John D. Hunter]]

| developer = Michael Droettboom, ''et al.''

| released = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2003}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://matplotlib.org/users/license.html#copyright-policy | title=Copyright Policy}}</ref>

| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|P348}}

| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P577}}}}

| latest preview version =

| latest preview date =

| engine = [[Cairo (graphics)| Cairo]], [[Anti-Grain Geometry]]

| discontinued =

| programming language = [[Category:Python (programming language)|Python]]

| operating system = [[Cross-platform]]

| platform =

| size =

| language =

| genre = [[List of graphing software|Plotting]]

| license = [https://matplotlib.org/users/license.html Matplotlib license]

| website = {{URL|https://matplotlib.org}}

}}

'''Matplotlib''' (portmanteau of [[MATLAB]], plot, and library<ref>{{cite web | url=https://matplotlib.org/stable/project/history.html | title=History — Matplotlib 3.9.2 documentation }}</ref>) is a [[Plotter|plotting]] [[Library (computer science)|library]] for the [[Python (programming language)|Python]] [[programming language]] and its [[Numerical analysis|numerical mathematics]] extension [[NumPy]]. It provides an [[Object-oriented programming|object-oriented]] [[API]] for embedding plots into applications using general-purpose [[GUI toolkit]]s like [[Tkinter]], [[wxPython]], [[Qt (software)|Qt]], or [[GTK]]. There is also a [[Procedural programming|procedural]] "pylab" interface based on a [[state machine]] (like [[OpenGL]]), designed to closely resemble that of [[MATLAB]], though its use is discouraged.<ref>{{cite web|title=API Overview|url=https://matplotlib.org/stable/api/index.html#module-pylab|publisher=matplotlib.org}}</ref> [[SciPy]] makes use of Matplotlib.

Matplotlib was originally written by [[John D. Hunter]]. Since then it has had an active development community<ref>{{cite web |url=https://matplotlib.org/users/github_stats.html |title=Matplotlib github stats |publisher=matplotlib.org }}</ref> and is distributed under a [[BSD licenses|BSD-style license]]. Michael Droettboom was nominated as matplotlib's lead developer shortly before John Hunter's death in August 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://matplotlib.1069221.n5.nabble.com/ANN-Michael-Droettboom-matplotlib-lead-developer-td5037.html |title=Announcing Michael Droettboom as the lead Matplotlib developer |publisher=matplotlib.org |access-date=2013-04-24 |archive-date=2020-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027122844/http://matplotlib.1069221.n5.nabble.com/ANN-Michael-Droettboom-matplotlib-lead-developer-td5037.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was further joined by Thomas Caswell.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.numfocus.org/blog/matplotlib-lead-developer-explains-why-he-cant-fix-the-docs-but-you-can|title=Matplotlib Lead Developer Explains Why He Can't Fix the Docs—But You Can – NumFOCUS|date=2017-10-05|work=NumFOCUS|access-date=2018-04-11|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matplotlib.org/users/credits.html|title=Credits – Matplotlib 2.2.2 documentation|website=matplotlib.org|access-date=2018-04-11}}</ref> Matplotlib is a [[NumFOCUS]] fiscally sponsored project.<ref>{{cite web|title=NumFOCUS Sponsored Projects|url=https://numfocus.org/sponsored-projects|publisher=NumFOCUS|access-date=2021-10-25}}</ref>

The library provides a "pylab" interface which is procedural and based on a state machine, like [[OpenGL]]. There is also an [[Object-oriented programming|OOP]] interface which has less thorough documentation and greater complexity.

== Usage ==

Using the OOP interface, matplotlib plots can be embedded in applications using generic GUI toolkits like [[wxPython]], [[Qt]] or [[GTK]].

Matplotlib is used in scientific research as a tool for data visualization. For example, the [[Event Horizon Telescope]] collaboration used Matplotlib to produce visualizations during the effort to create the first image of a black hole.<ref name="NumPyBlackHole">{{cite web |title=Case Study: First Image of a Black Hole |url=https://numpy.org/case-studies/blackhole-image/ |website=NumPy |access-date=22 April 2025}}</ref> Matplotlib also underpins the plotting functionality of many scientific [[Python (programming language)|Python]] libraries (for instance, [[pandas (software)|pandas]] uses Matplotlib as its default backend for plotting). Its importance to the scientific community has been acknowledged by institutions such as [[NASA]], which in 2024 awarded a grant to support Matplotlib’s continued development as part of an initiative to fund widely used open-source scientific software.<ref name="NASAOpenSource">{{cite web |title=NASA Funds Open-Source Software Underpinning Scientific Innovation |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-funds-open-source-software-underpinning-scientific-innovation/ |website=NASA |access-date=22 April 2025}}</ref>

== Compare to ==

* [[Biggles (Python module)|Biggles]] [http://biggles.sourceforge.net/]

[[File:Matplotlib in jupyter notebook.png|thumb|258x258px|A scatter plot created in Jupyter Notebook using Matplotlib]]

In education and data science, Matplotlib is frequently used to teach programming and data visualization. It integrates with [[Jupyter Notebook]], allowing students and instructors to generate inline plots and interactively explore data within a notebook environment.<ref name="JupyterNature">{{cite news |title=Interactive notebooks: Sharing the code |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07196-1 |work=Nature |date=18 September 2018 |access-date=22 April 2025}}</ref> Many educational institutions incorporate Matplotlib into their curricula for teaching STEM concepts,<ref name="MatplotlibTutorial">{{cite web |title=Pyplot tutorial |url=https://matplotlib.org/stable/tutorials/introductory/pyplot.html |website=Matplotlib |access-date=22 April 2025}}</ref> and it is widely featured in tutorials, workshops, and open online courses as a primary plotting library.

==Related projects==

* [[DISLIN]]

* [[GNU Octave]]

* [[Gnuplot]]-py [http://gnuplot-py.sourceforge.net/]

* [[Plotly]] – for interactive, online Matplotlib and Python graphs

* [[PyPlotter]] [http://www.eckhartarnold.de/apppages/pyplotter.html] – compatible with [[Jython]]

* [[PLplot]] – Python bindings available

* [[PyX]] [http://pyx.sourceforge.net/]

* [[SageMath]] – uses <code>Matplotlib</code> to draw plots

* [[ReportLab]]

* [[SciPy]] (modules plt and gplt)

==References==

[[Image:Matplotlib-gtk.png]]

{{Reflist|2}}

Image of an embeded Matplotlib plot within a GTK application (pyGTK)

== External links ==

{{Commons category|Matplotlib}}

* [http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/ Matplotlib Home Page]

* {{Official website|https://matplotlib.org}}

{{SciPy ecosystem}}

[[Category:Python programming language]]

[[Category:Articles with example Python (programming language) code]]

{{Compu-lang-stub}}

[[Category:Free plotting software]]

[[Category:Free software programmed in Python]]

[[Category:Python (programming language) scientific libraries]]

[[Category:Science software that uses GTK]]

[[Category:Science software that uses Qt]]

[[Category:Free data and information visualization software]]