Step Demo#

This example demonstrates the use of pyplot.step for piece-wise constant curves. In particular, it illustrates the effect of the parameter where on the step position.

Note

For the common case that you know the edge positions, use pyplot.stairs instead.

The circular markers created with pyplot.plot show the actual data positions so that it's easier to see the effect of where.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

x = np.arange(14)
y = np.sin(x / 2)

plt.step(x, y + 2, label='pre (default)')
plt.plot(x, y + 2, 'o--', color='grey', alpha=0.3)

plt.step(x, y + 1, where='mid', label='mid')
plt.plot(x, y + 1, 'o--', color='grey', alpha=0.3)

plt.step(x, y, where='post', label='post')
plt.plot(x, y, 'o--', color='grey', alpha=0.3)

plt.grid(axis='x', color='0.95')
plt.legend(title='Parameter where:')
plt.title('plt.step(where=...)')
plt.show()
plt.step(where=...)

The same behavior can be achieved by using the drawstyle parameter of pyplot.plot.

plt.plot(x, y + 2, drawstyle='steps', label='steps (=steps-pre)')
plt.plot(x, y + 2, 'o--', color='grey', alpha=0.3)

plt.plot(x, y + 1, drawstyle='steps-mid', label='steps-mid')
plt.plot(x, y + 1, 'o--', color='grey', alpha=0.3)

plt.plot(x, y, drawstyle='steps-post', label='steps-post')
plt.plot(x, y, 'o--', color='grey', alpha=0.3)

plt.grid(axis='x', color='0.95')
plt.legend(title='Parameter drawstyle:')
plt.title('plt.plot(drawstyle=...)')
plt.show()
plt.plot(drawstyle=...)

References

The use of the following functions, methods, classes and modules is shown in this example:

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