Matplotlib Subplots | Python Data Visualization | Lab

Introduction

Matplotlib is a popular Python library used for data visualization. In this lab, we will learn how to combine two subplots using subplots and GridSpec in Matplotlib.

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Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/PlotCustomizationGroup(["`Plot Customization`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/ControlFlowGroup(["`Control Flow`"]) 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/PlotCustomizationGroup -.-> matplotlib/text_annotations("`Text Annotations`") python/ControlFlowGroup -.-> python/for_loops("`For Loops`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/lists("`Lists`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/tuples("`Tuples`") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/importing_modules("`Importing Modules`") python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup -.-> python/data_visualization("`Data Visualization`") subgraph Lab Skills matplotlib/importing_matplotlib -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} matplotlib/figures_axes -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} matplotlib/text_annotations -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} python/for_loops -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} python/lists -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} python/tuples -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} python/importing_modules -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} python/data_visualization -.-> lab-48757{{"`Combining Subplots with GridSpec`"}} end

Import Required Libraries

We start by importing the necessary libraries for this lab. We will be using Matplotlib for data visualization.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

Create a Figure with Subplots

We create a figure with three columns and three rows of subplots.

fig, axs = plt.subplots(ncols=3, nrows=3)

Get the GridSpec from the Axes

We get the GridSpec from the second row and third column of the subplots.

gs = axs[1, 2].get_gridspec()

Remove the Underlying Axes

We remove the underlying axes that are covered by the bigger axes that we will create in the next step.

for ax in axs[1:, -1]:
    ax.remove()

Add a Bigger Axes

We add a bigger axes that covers the second and third rows of the last column.

axbig = fig.add_subplot(gs[1:, -1])

Annotate the Bigger Axes

We annotate the bigger axes with some text.

axbig.annotate('Big Axes \nGridSpec[1:, -1]', (0.1, 0.5),
               xycoords='axes fraction', va='center')

Adjust the Layout

We adjust the layout of the subplots to ensure they fit in the figure.

fig.tight_layout()

Display the Plot

We display the plot using Matplotlib.

plt.show()

Summary

In this lab, we learned how to combine two subplots using subplots and GridSpec in Matplotlib. We created a figure with subplots, got the GridSpec from the axes, removed the underlying axes, added a bigger axes, annotated the bigger axes, and adjusted the layout of the subplots. Finally, we displayed the plot using Matplotlib.