Here are a few title options, ranging from more direct to more engaging: Direct: * Matplotlib: What are Figures, Axes, and Plots? * Matplotlib: Understanding the Hierarchy of Figure, Axes, and Plot

matplotlib: Understanding the Hierarchy of Plot, Axes, and Figure

Problem:

When creating plots using the widely used matplotlib library, confusion can arise regarding the differences between the terms "plot," "axes," and "figure." This article aims to clarify the underlying concepts and their implications.

Understanding the Objects:

• Figure: The "canvas" upon which plots are drawn, containing the axes and other elements.
• Axes: The "Swiss Army knife" of matplotlib, providing various plotting and manipulation capabilities.

The plt Interface:

Matplotlib's procedural interface ("plt") operates through the same underlying objects but provides a more convenient syntax. For example:

<code class="python">plt.plot(x, y)  # Equivalent to a hidden_axes.plot() call</code>

Code Examples:

Method 1:

<code class="python">plt.plot(x, y)</code>

• Uses the "plt" interface with a single, default axes.
• Suitable for quick explorations or demonstrations.

Method 2:

<code class="python">ax = plt.subplot()
ax.plot(x, y)</code>

• Uses the "plt" interface to create a named axes object.
• Provides greater control over the axes attributes and flexibility for multiple axes arrangements.

Method 3:

<code class="python">figure = plt.figure()
new_plot = figure.add_subplot(111)
new_plot.plot(x, y)</code>

• Instantiates the figure and axes objects directly.
• Offers the highest level of customization and control.

Recommendation:

• For interactive sessions and exploratory notebooks, the simple "plt" interface is sufficient.
• For customized and reusable plots or for embedding in user interfaces, the object-oriented approach with plt convenience methods is recommended.

The above is the detailed content of Here are a few title options, ranging from more direct to more engaging: Direct: * Matplotlib: What are Figures, Axes, and Plots? * Matplotlib: Understanding the Hierarchy of Figure, Axes, and Plot. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!