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Version 3.1.2
matplotlib
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Matplotlib is a Python 2D plotting library which produces publication quality figures in a variety of hardcopy formats and interactive environments across platforms. Matplotlib can be used in Python scripts, the Python and IPython shells, the Jupyter notebook, web application servers, and four graphical user interface toolkits.

Matplotlib tries to make easy things easy and hard things possible. You can generate plots, histograms, power spectra, bar charts, errorcharts, scatterplots, etc., with just a few lines of code. For examples, see the sample plots and thumbnail gallery.

For simple plotting the pyplot module provides a MATLAB-like interface, particularly when combined with IPython. For the power user, you have full control of line styles, font properties, axes properties, etc, via an object oriented interface or via a set of functions familiar to MATLAB users.

Documentation

This is the documentation for Matplotlib version 3.1.2.

To get started, read the User's Guide.

Trying to learn how to do a particular kind of plot? Check out the examples gallery or the list of plotting commands.

Other learning resources

There are many external learning resources available including printed material, videos and tutorials.

Join our community!

Matplotlib is a welcoming, inclusive project, and we follow the Python Software Foundation Code of Conduct in everything we do.

You can file bugs, patches and feature requests on the issue tracker, but it is a good idea to ping us on Discourse as well.

To keep up to date with what's going on in Matplotlib, see the what's new page or browse the source code. Anything that could require changes to your existing code is logged in the API changes file.

Toolkits

Matplotlib ships with several add-on toolkits, including 3d plotting with mplot3d, axes helpers in axes_grid1 and axis helpers in axisartist.

Third party packages

A large number of third party packages extend and build on Matplotlib functionality, including several higher-level plotting interfaces (seaborn, holoviews, ggplot, ...), and two projection and mapping toolkits (basemap and cartopy).

Citing Matplotlib

Matplotlib is the brainchild of John Hunter (1968-2012), who, along with its many contributors, have put an immeasurable amount of time and effort into producing a piece of software utilized by thousands of scientists worldwide.

If Matplotlib contributes to a project that leads to a scientific publication, please acknowledge this work by citing the project. A ready-made citation entry is available.

Open source

A Fiscally Sponsored Project of NUMFocus

Matplotlib is a Sponsored Project of NumFOCUS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity in the United States. NumFOCUS provides Matplotlib with fiscal, legal, and administrative support to help ensure the health and sustainability of the project. Visit numfocus.org for more information.

Donations to Matplotlib are managed by NumFOCUS. For donors in the United States, your gift is tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. As with any donation, you should consult with your tax adviser about your particular tax situation.

Please consider donating to the Matplotlib project through the Numfocus organization or to the John Hunter Technology Fellowship.

The Matplotlib license is based on the Python Software Foundation (PSF) license.

There is an active developer community and a long list of people who have made significant contributions.

Matplotlib is hosted on Github. Issues and Pull requests are tracked at Github too.