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Subplots | Plots Customization
Ultimate Visualization with Python
course content

Course Content

Ultimate Visualization with Python

Ultimate Visualization with Python

1. Matplotlib Introduction
2. Creating Commonly Used Plots
3. Plots Customization
4. More Statistical Plots
5. Plotting with Seaborn

bookSubplots

Up until now we only created multiple plots on one Axes object using multiple calls of the plotting functions (we can combine different plot types).

Now it’s time to learn how to create multiple Axes objects and thus multiple plots on different Axes objects.

pyplot has a subplots() function exactly for this purpose. We have already used this function when we created a canvas in the first section, now we'll have a more detailed look at it.

Rows and Columns

The two most important arguments of this function are nrows and ncolumns which specify the number of rows and columns of the subplot grid respectively (their default values are 1 and 1 resulting in just one Axes object).

subplots() returns a Figure object and either an Axes object or an array of Axes objects.

Let’s have a look at an example:

123
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) plt.show()
copy

We have just created a 2 by 2 subplot grid.

Note

The subplots function here returns an array of Axes objects, since there is more than one subplot. When there is an array of Axes returned the variable for storing it is often called axs (ax is mostly used for a single Axes object).

axs in our case is a two-dimensional array, hence why we should use both a row index and a column index to access a particular Axes object.

Let’s create a few plots:

123456789101112
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0, 0].plot(data_linear) axs[0, 1].plot(data_squared) axs[1, 0].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[1, 1].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

The first row of the subplot grid (row 0) has two line plots and the second row (row 1) has two scatter plots.

Remember that we cannot use plt.plot() or plt.scatter() here, since we want to place each plot on a separate Axes object (subplot).

Converting to 1D Array

It is also possible to use the .ravel() method to convert 2D Axes array to 1D contiguous flattened array:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

Since we have a 2x2 array, axs.ravel() returns a 1D array with four elements.

Sharing an Axis

Another two important parameters of the subplots() function are sharex and sharey which specify whether the properties should be shared across the x or y axes respectively. They both have a default value of False. Let’s change one of them in our example:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Share x-axis among all the subplots fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2, sharex=True) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

With the True value for sharex x-axis will be shared among all subplots, which makes sense here, since we have the same x-axis coordinates for all of the subplots.

Moreover, we can set sharex or sharey parameters to row ( each subplot row will share a respective axis) or col (each subplot column will share a respective axis).

As usual feel free to explore more in the documentation in case you want to.

Task
test

Swipe to show code editor

  1. Use the correct function to create a subplot grid.
  2. The grid should have 3 rows and 1 column (specify the first two parameters).
  3. Specify the rightmost keyword argument, so that x-axis will be shared among all the subplots.
  4. Store the result of the function for creating subplots in the fig and axs variables (from left to right).
  5. Place the first line plot for data_linear on the first row (row 0) of the subplot grid.
  6. Place the second line plot for data_squared on the second row (row 1) of the subplot grid.
  7. Place the third line plot for data_exp on the third row (row 2) of the subplot grid.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 3. Chapter 6
toggle bottom row

bookSubplots

Up until now we only created multiple plots on one Axes object using multiple calls of the plotting functions (we can combine different plot types).

Now it’s time to learn how to create multiple Axes objects and thus multiple plots on different Axes objects.

pyplot has a subplots() function exactly for this purpose. We have already used this function when we created a canvas in the first section, now we'll have a more detailed look at it.

Rows and Columns

The two most important arguments of this function are nrows and ncolumns which specify the number of rows and columns of the subplot grid respectively (their default values are 1 and 1 resulting in just one Axes object).

subplots() returns a Figure object and either an Axes object or an array of Axes objects.

Let’s have a look at an example:

123
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) plt.show()
copy

We have just created a 2 by 2 subplot grid.

Note

The subplots function here returns an array of Axes objects, since there is more than one subplot. When there is an array of Axes returned the variable for storing it is often called axs (ax is mostly used for a single Axes object).

axs in our case is a two-dimensional array, hence why we should use both a row index and a column index to access a particular Axes object.

Let’s create a few plots:

123456789101112
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0, 0].plot(data_linear) axs[0, 1].plot(data_squared) axs[1, 0].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[1, 1].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

The first row of the subplot grid (row 0) has two line plots and the second row (row 1) has two scatter plots.

Remember that we cannot use plt.plot() or plt.scatter() here, since we want to place each plot on a separate Axes object (subplot).

Converting to 1D Array

It is also possible to use the .ravel() method to convert 2D Axes array to 1D contiguous flattened array:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

Since we have a 2x2 array, axs.ravel() returns a 1D array with four elements.

Sharing an Axis

Another two important parameters of the subplots() function are sharex and sharey which specify whether the properties should be shared across the x or y axes respectively. They both have a default value of False. Let’s change one of them in our example:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Share x-axis among all the subplots fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2, sharex=True) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

With the True value for sharex x-axis will be shared among all subplots, which makes sense here, since we have the same x-axis coordinates for all of the subplots.

Moreover, we can set sharex or sharey parameters to row ( each subplot row will share a respective axis) or col (each subplot column will share a respective axis).

As usual feel free to explore more in the documentation in case you want to.

Task
test

Swipe to show code editor

  1. Use the correct function to create a subplot grid.
  2. The grid should have 3 rows and 1 column (specify the first two parameters).
  3. Specify the rightmost keyword argument, so that x-axis will be shared among all the subplots.
  4. Store the result of the function for creating subplots in the fig and axs variables (from left to right).
  5. Place the first line plot for data_linear on the first row (row 0) of the subplot grid.
  6. Place the second line plot for data_squared on the second row (row 1) of the subplot grid.
  7. Place the third line plot for data_exp on the third row (row 2) of the subplot grid.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 3. Chapter 6
toggle bottom row

bookSubplots

Up until now we only created multiple plots on one Axes object using multiple calls of the plotting functions (we can combine different plot types).

Now it’s time to learn how to create multiple Axes objects and thus multiple plots on different Axes objects.

pyplot has a subplots() function exactly for this purpose. We have already used this function when we created a canvas in the first section, now we'll have a more detailed look at it.

Rows and Columns

The two most important arguments of this function are nrows and ncolumns which specify the number of rows and columns of the subplot grid respectively (their default values are 1 and 1 resulting in just one Axes object).

subplots() returns a Figure object and either an Axes object or an array of Axes objects.

Let’s have a look at an example:

123
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) plt.show()
copy

We have just created a 2 by 2 subplot grid.

Note

The subplots function here returns an array of Axes objects, since there is more than one subplot. When there is an array of Axes returned the variable for storing it is often called axs (ax is mostly used for a single Axes object).

axs in our case is a two-dimensional array, hence why we should use both a row index and a column index to access a particular Axes object.

Let’s create a few plots:

123456789101112
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0, 0].plot(data_linear) axs[0, 1].plot(data_squared) axs[1, 0].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[1, 1].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

The first row of the subplot grid (row 0) has two line plots and the second row (row 1) has two scatter plots.

Remember that we cannot use plt.plot() or plt.scatter() here, since we want to place each plot on a separate Axes object (subplot).

Converting to 1D Array

It is also possible to use the .ravel() method to convert 2D Axes array to 1D contiguous flattened array:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

Since we have a 2x2 array, axs.ravel() returns a 1D array with four elements.

Sharing an Axis

Another two important parameters of the subplots() function are sharex and sharey which specify whether the properties should be shared across the x or y axes respectively. They both have a default value of False. Let’s change one of them in our example:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Share x-axis among all the subplots fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2, sharex=True) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

With the True value for sharex x-axis will be shared among all subplots, which makes sense here, since we have the same x-axis coordinates for all of the subplots.

Moreover, we can set sharex or sharey parameters to row ( each subplot row will share a respective axis) or col (each subplot column will share a respective axis).

As usual feel free to explore more in the documentation in case you want to.

Task
test

Swipe to show code editor

  1. Use the correct function to create a subplot grid.
  2. The grid should have 3 rows and 1 column (specify the first two parameters).
  3. Specify the rightmost keyword argument, so that x-axis will be shared among all the subplots.
  4. Store the result of the function for creating subplots in the fig and axs variables (from left to right).
  5. Place the first line plot for data_linear on the first row (row 0) of the subplot grid.
  6. Place the second line plot for data_squared on the second row (row 1) of the subplot grid.
  7. Place the third line plot for data_exp on the third row (row 2) of the subplot grid.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Up until now we only created multiple plots on one Axes object using multiple calls of the plotting functions (we can combine different plot types).

Now it’s time to learn how to create multiple Axes objects and thus multiple plots on different Axes objects.

pyplot has a subplots() function exactly for this purpose. We have already used this function when we created a canvas in the first section, now we'll have a more detailed look at it.

Rows and Columns

The two most important arguments of this function are nrows and ncolumns which specify the number of rows and columns of the subplot grid respectively (their default values are 1 and 1 resulting in just one Axes object).

subplots() returns a Figure object and either an Axes object or an array of Axes objects.

Let’s have a look at an example:

123
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) plt.show()
copy

We have just created a 2 by 2 subplot grid.

Note

The subplots function here returns an array of Axes objects, since there is more than one subplot. When there is an array of Axes returned the variable for storing it is often called axs (ax is mostly used for a single Axes object).

axs in our case is a two-dimensional array, hence why we should use both a row index and a column index to access a particular Axes object.

Let’s create a few plots:

123456789101112
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0, 0].plot(data_linear) axs[0, 1].plot(data_squared) axs[1, 0].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[1, 1].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

The first row of the subplot grid (row 0) has two line plots and the second row (row 1) has two scatter plots.

Remember that we cannot use plt.plot() or plt.scatter() here, since we want to place each plot on a separate Axes object (subplot).

Converting to 1D Array

It is also possible to use the .ravel() method to convert 2D Axes array to 1D contiguous flattened array:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Creating a 2x2 subplot grid fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

Since we have a 2x2 array, axs.ravel() returns a 1D array with four elements.

Sharing an Axis

Another two important parameters of the subplots() function are sharex and sharey which specify whether the properties should be shared across the x or y axes respectively. They both have a default value of False. Let’s change one of them in our example:

1234567891011121314
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np data_linear = np.arange(1, 11) data_squared = data_linear ** 2 # Share x-axis among all the subplots fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2, sharex=True) # Converting axs to 1D array of 4 elements axs = axs.ravel() # Creating a different plot for each Axes object axs[0].plot(data_linear) axs[1].plot(data_squared) axs[2].scatter(data_linear, data_linear) axs[3].scatter(data_linear, data_squared) plt.show()
copy

With the True value for sharex x-axis will be shared among all subplots, which makes sense here, since we have the same x-axis coordinates for all of the subplots.

Moreover, we can set sharex or sharey parameters to row ( each subplot row will share a respective axis) or col (each subplot column will share a respective axis).

As usual feel free to explore more in the documentation in case you want to.

Task
test

Swipe to show code editor

  1. Use the correct function to create a subplot grid.
  2. The grid should have 3 rows and 1 column (specify the first two parameters).
  3. Specify the rightmost keyword argument, so that x-axis will be shared among all the subplots.
  4. Store the result of the function for creating subplots in the fig and axs variables (from left to right).
  5. Place the first line plot for data_linear on the first row (row 0) of the subplot grid.
  6. Place the second line plot for data_squared on the second row (row 1) of the subplot grid.
  7. Place the third line plot for data_exp on the third row (row 2) of the subplot grid.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Section 3. Chapter 6
Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
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