Python Tutorials · Python Matplotlib

Matplotlib Subplot

Learn all about Matplotlib Subplot in this comprehensive tutorial.

5 min read intermediate

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•With the subplot() function you can draw multiple plots in one figure:
•The subplot() function takes three arguments that describes the layout of the figure.
•You can add a title to each plot with the title() function:
•You can add a title to the entire figure with the suptitle() function:

Display Multiple Plots

With the subplot() function you can draw multiple plots in one figure:

python

import matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport numpy as np#plot 1:val_1 = 
  np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])plt.subplot(1, 2, 1)
  plt.plot(val_1,val_2)#plot 2:val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([10, 20, 30, 
  40])plt.subplot(1, 2, 2)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)plt.show()

The subplot() Function

The subplot() function takes three arguments that describes the layout of the figure.

The layout is organized in rows and columns, which are represented by the first and second argument.

The third argument represents the index of the current plot.

So, if we want a figure with 2 rows an 1 column (meaning that the two plots will be displayed on top of each other instead of side-by-side), we can write the syntax like this:

python

import matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport numpy as np#plot 1:val_1 = 
  np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])plt.subplot(2, 1, 1)
  plt.plot(val_1,val_2)#plot 2:val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([10, 20, 30, 
  40])plt.subplot(2, 1, 2)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)plt.show()

You can draw as many plots you like on one figure, just descibe the number of rows, columns, and the index of the plot.

python

import matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport numpy as npx = np.array([0, 
  1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])plt.subplot(2, 3, 1)
  plt.plot(val_1,val_2)val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([10, 20, 30, 
  40])plt.subplot(2, 3, 2)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 
  2, 3])val_2 = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])plt.subplot(2, 3, 3)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)
val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([10, 20, 30, 40])
  plt.subplot(2, 3, 4)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = 
  np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])plt.subplot(2, 3, 5)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)val_1 
  = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([10, 20, 30, 40])plt.subplot(2, 
  3, 6)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)plt.show()

Title

You can add a title to each plot with the title() function:

python

import matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport numpy as np#plot 1:val_1 = 
  np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])plt.subplot(1, 2, 1)
  plt.plot(val_1,val_2)plt.title("SALES")#plot 2:val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([10, 20, 30, 
  40])plt.subplot(1, 2, 2)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)plt.title("INCOME")
plt.show()

Super Title

You can add a title to the entire figure with the suptitle() function:

python

import matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport numpy as np#plot 1:val_1 = 
  np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])plt.subplot(1, 2, 1)
  plt.plot(val_1,val_2)plt.title("SALES")#plot 2:val_1 = np.array([0, 1, 2, 3])val_2 = np.array([10, 20, 30, 
  40])plt.subplot(1, 2, 2)plt.plot(val_1,val_2)plt.title("INCOME")
plt.suptitle("MY SHOP")plt.show()

Module quiz

2 questions

Which of the following is true about Matplotlib Subplot?

It is strictly typedIt is evaluated at runtimeIt requires explicit memory managementIt is deprecated

What is the most common pitfall when working with Matplotlib Subplot?

SyntaxErrorIndentationErrorNameErrorTypeError

Answer all questions to submit.

Matplotlib Grid

Matplotlib Scatter

Matplotlib Subplot

AI Summary

Display Multiple Plots

The subplot() Function

Title

Super Title

Module quiz