Mastering Matplotlib: Create Stunning Line Plots

Introduction

Matplotlib is a Python library used for plotting graphs and data visualizations. In this lab, you will learn how to use Matplotlib to create and save a simple line plot.

VM Tips

After the VM startup is done, click the top left corner to switch to the Notebook tab to access Jupyter Notebook for practice.

Sometimes, you may need to wait a few seconds for Jupyter Notebook to finish loading. The validation of operations cannot be automated because of limitations in Jupyter Notebook.

If you face issues during learning, feel free to ask Labby. Provide feedback after the session, and we will promptly resolve the problem for you.

Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/PlottingDataGroup(["`Plotting Data`"]) matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/PlotCustomizationGroup(["`Plot Customization`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/DataStructuresGroup(["`Data Structures`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/ModulesandPackagesGroup(["`Modules and Packages`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup(["`Data Science and Machine Learning`"]) matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> matplotlib/importing_matplotlib("`Importing Matplotlib`") matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> matplotlib/figures_axes("`Understanding Figures and Axes`") matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> matplotlib/saving_figures("`Saving Figures to File`") matplotlib/PlottingDataGroup -.-> matplotlib/line_plots("`Line Plots`") matplotlib/PlotCustomizationGroup -.-> matplotlib/titles_labels("`Adding Titles and Labels`") matplotlib/PlotCustomizationGroup -.-> matplotlib/grid_config("`Grid Configuration`") python/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> python/booleans("`Booleans`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/lists("`Lists`") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/importing_modules("`Importing Modules`") python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup -.-> python/data_visualization("`Data Visualization`") subgraph Lab Skills matplotlib/importing_matplotlib -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} matplotlib/figures_axes -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} matplotlib/saving_figures -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} matplotlib/line_plots -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} matplotlib/titles_labels -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} matplotlib/grid_config -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} python/booleans -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} python/lists -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} python/importing_modules -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} python/data_visualization -.-> lab-48882{{"`Print Stdout Sgskip`"}} end

Import necessary libraries

To use Matplotlib, we first need to import it along with other necessary libraries. The code for this is shown below:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

Create a dataset

Next, we need to create a dataset to plot. In this example, we will use a simple list of numbers. The code for this is shown below:

data = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Create a plot

Now that we have our data, we can create a plot. In this example, we will create a simple line plot using the plot() function. The code for this is shown below:

plt.plot(data)

Customize the plot

We can customize the plot by adding a title, labels for the x-axis and y-axis, and a grid. The code for this is shown below:

plt.title("My Plot")
plt.xlabel("X-axis Label")
plt.ylabel("Y-axis Label")
plt.grid(True)

Save the plot

Finally, we can save the plot to a file using the savefig() function. In this example, we will save the plot as a PNG file. The code for this is shown below:

plt.savefig("my_plot.png")

Summary

In this lab, you learned how to use Matplotlib to create a simple line plot and save it as a PNG file. You also learned how to customize the plot by adding a title, labels for the x-axis and y-axis, and a grid. Matplotlib is a powerful library that can be used for many types of data visualizations and can help you gain insights into your data.

Print Stdout Sgskip