Marker reference#

Matplotlib supports multiple categories of markers which are selected using the marker parameter of plot commands:

For a list of all markers see also the matplotlib.markers documentation.

For example usages see Marker examples.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
from matplotlib.markers import MarkerStyle
from matplotlib.transforms import Affine2D

text_style = dict(horizontalalignment='right', verticalalignment='center',
                  fontsize=12, fontfamily='monospace')
marker_style = dict(linestyle=':', color='0.8', markersize=10,
                    markerfacecolor="tab:blue", markeredgecolor="tab:blue")


def format_axes(ax):
    ax.margins(0.2)
    ax.set_axis_off()
    ax.invert_yaxis()


def split_list(a_list):
    i_half = len(a_list) // 2
    return a_list[:i_half], a_list[i_half:]

Unfilled markers#

Unfilled markers are single-colored.

fig, axs = plt.subplots(ncols=2)
fig.suptitle('Un-filled markers', fontsize=14)

# Filter out filled markers and marker settings that do nothing.
unfilled_markers = [m for m, func in Line2D.markers.items()
                    if func != 'nothing' and m not in Line2D.filled_markers]

for ax, markers in zip(axs, split_list(unfilled_markers)):
    for y, marker in enumerate(markers):
        ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(marker), **text_style)
        ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
    format_axes(ax)
Un-filled markers

Filled markers#

fig, axs = plt.subplots(ncols=2)
fig.suptitle('Filled markers', fontsize=14)
for ax, markers in zip(axs, split_list(Line2D.filled_markers)):
    for y, marker in enumerate(markers):
        ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(marker), **text_style)
        ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
    format_axes(ax)
Filled markers

Marker fill styles#

The edge color and fill color of filled markers can be specified separately. Additionally, the fillstyle can be configured to be unfilled, fully filled, or half-filled in various directions. The half-filled styles use markerfacecoloralt as secondary fill color.

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Marker fillstyle', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.4)

filled_marker_style = dict(marker='o', linestyle=':', markersize=15,
                           color='darkgrey',
                           markerfacecolor='tab:blue',
                           markerfacecoloralt='lightsteelblue',
                           markeredgecolor='brown')

for y, fill_style in enumerate(Line2D.fillStyles):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(fill_style), **text_style)
    ax.plot([y] * 3, fillstyle=fill_style, **filled_marker_style)
format_axes(ax)
Marker fillstyle

Markers created from TeX symbols#

Use MathText, to use custom marker symbols, like e.g. "$\u266B$". For an overview over the STIX font symbols refer to the STIX font table. Also see the STIX Fonts.

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Mathtext markers', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.4)

marker_style.update(markeredgecolor="none", markersize=15)
markers = ["$1$", r"$\frac{1}{2}$", "$f$", "$\u266B$", r"$\mathcal{A}$"]

for y, marker in enumerate(markers):
    # Escape dollars so that the text is written "as is", not as mathtext.
    ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(marker).replace("$", r"\$"), **text_style)
    ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
format_axes(ax)
Mathtext markers

Markers created from Paths#

Any Path can be used as a marker. The following example shows two simple paths star and circle, and a more elaborate path of a circle with a cut-out star.

import numpy as np

import matplotlib.path as mpath

star = mpath.Path.unit_regular_star(6)
circle = mpath.Path.unit_circle()
# concatenate the circle with an internal cutout of the star
cut_star = mpath.Path(
    vertices=np.concatenate([circle.vertices, star.vertices[::-1, ...]]),
    codes=np.concatenate([circle.codes, star.codes]))

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Path markers', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.4)

markers = {'star': star, 'circle': circle, 'cut_star': cut_star}

for y, (name, marker) in enumerate(markers.items()):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, name, **text_style)
    ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
format_axes(ax)
Path markers

Advanced marker modifications with transform#

Markers can be modified by passing a transform to the MarkerStyle constructor. Following example shows how a supplied rotation is applied to several marker shapes.

common_style = {k: v for k, v in filled_marker_style.items() if k != 'marker'}
angles = [0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90]

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Rotated markers', fontsize=14)

ax.text(-0.5, 0, 'Filled marker', **text_style)
for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
    ax.plot(x, 0, marker=MarkerStyle('o', 'left', t), **common_style)

ax.text(-0.5, 1, 'Un-filled marker', **text_style)
for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
    ax.plot(x, 1, marker=MarkerStyle('1', 'left', t), **common_style)

ax.text(-0.5, 2, 'Equation marker', **text_style)
for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
    eq = r'$\frac{1}{x}$'
    ax.plot(x, 2, marker=MarkerStyle(eq, 'left', t), **common_style)

for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    ax.text(x, 2.5, f"{theta}°", horizontalalignment="center")
format_axes(ax)

fig.tight_layout()
Rotated markers

Setting marker cap style and join style#

Markers have default cap and join styles, but these can be customized when creating a MarkerStyle.

from matplotlib.markers import CapStyle, JoinStyle

marker_inner = dict(markersize=35,
                    markerfacecolor='tab:blue',
                    markerfacecoloralt='lightsteelblue',
                    markeredgecolor='brown',
                    markeredgewidth=8,
                    )

marker_outer = dict(markersize=35,
                    markerfacecolor='tab:blue',
                    markerfacecoloralt='lightsteelblue',
                    markeredgecolor='white',
                    markeredgewidth=1,
                    )

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Marker CapStyle', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.1)

for y, cap_style in enumerate(CapStyle):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, cap_style.name, **text_style)
    for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
        t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
        m = MarkerStyle('1', transform=t, capstyle=cap_style)
        ax.plot(x, y, marker=m, **marker_inner)
        ax.plot(x, y, marker=m, **marker_outer)
        ax.text(x, len(CapStyle) - .5, f'{theta}°', ha='center')
format_axes(ax)
Marker CapStyle

Modifying the join style:

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Marker JoinStyle', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.05)

for y, join_style in enumerate(JoinStyle):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, join_style.name, **text_style)
    for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
        t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
        m = MarkerStyle('*', transform=t, joinstyle=join_style)
        ax.plot(x, y, marker=m, **marker_inner)
        ax.text(x, len(JoinStyle) - .5, f'{theta}°', ha='center')
format_axes(ax)

plt.show()
Marker JoinStyle

Total running time of the script: (0 minutes 2.435 seconds)

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