Matplotlib

Matplotlib is a plotting library for the Python programming language and its NumPy numerical mathematics extension. It provides a "pylab" API designed to closely resemble that of MATLAB, thereby making it easy to learn for experienced MATLAB users. Matplotlib is written and maintained primarily by John Hunter, and is distributed under a BSD-style license.

matplotlib
matplotlib logo
Original author(s)	John Hunter
Stable release	0.98.5 / 2008-12-11
Repository	github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib
Engine	Cairo Anti-Grain Geometry
Operating system	Cross-platform
Type	Plotting
License	matplotlib licence
Website	matplotlib.sf.net

The "pylab" interface is procedural and based on a state machine, like OpenGL. There is also an OOP interface which is documented in the API Docs [1] which allows matplotlib plots to be embedded into applications using generic GUI toolkits, like wxPython, Qt or GTK.

Currently, Matplotlib only has support for Python versions up to 2.5.

Comparison with MATLAB

 

Example plot by matplotlib

Matplotlib has become a viable alternative for many MATLAB users, and – like MATLAB before it – it is on its way to become a commonly used teaching tool for numerical mathematics and signal processing.

Advantages of Python+NumPy+Matplotlib over MATLAB include:

• Based on Python, a full-featured modern object-oriented programming language suitable for large-scale software development
• Suitable for fast scripting, including CGI scripts
• Free, open source, no license servers

Compare to

• GNU Octave
• Chaco
• wxPython (module wx.lib.plot.py)
• Biggles [2]
• DISLIN
• Gnuplot-py [3]
• PyPlotter [4] – compatible with Jython
• PyX [5]
• ReportLab
• SciPy (modules plt and gplt)
• PyCha [6] - libcairo [7] implementation
• PLplot - provides also Python bindings

External links

• Matplotlib Home Page
• Matplotlib Cookbook