Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python

Introduction

This lab will guide you through the process of creating a 3D plot using Matplotlib in Python.

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.

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Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/AdvancedPlottingGroup(["`Advanced Plotting`"]) 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/AdvancedPlottingGroup -.-> matplotlib/3d_plots("`3D Plots`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/tuples("`Tuples`") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/importing_modules("`Importing Modules`") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/using_packages("`Using Packages`") python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup -.-> python/numerical_computing("`Numerical Computing`") python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup -.-> python/data_visualization("`Data Visualization`") subgraph Lab Skills matplotlib/importing_matplotlib -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} matplotlib/figures_axes -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} matplotlib/3d_plots -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} python/tuples -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} python/importing_modules -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} python/using_packages -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} python/numerical_computing -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} python/data_visualization -.-> lab-48848{{"`Create 3D Plots with Matplotlib in Python`"}} end

Import Necessary Libraries

We begin by importing the necessary libraries. In this case, we need NumPy and Matplotlib.

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from mpl_toolkits.mplot3d import Axes3D

Create Data

Next, we create the data that we will use in our plot. In this example, we will be using NumPy to generate the data.

x = np.linspace(-5, 5, 100)
y = np.linspace(-5, 5, 100)
X, Y = np.meshgrid(x, y)
Z = np.sin(np.sqrt(X ** 2 + Y ** 2))

Create the Figure and Axes Objects

Now, we create a figure and axes object that we will use to create the plot.

fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(111, projection='3d')

Create the Plot

Finally, we create the plot using the data and the axes object we just created.

ax.plot_surface(X, Y, Z)
ax.set_xlabel('X Label')
ax.set_ylabel('Y Label')
ax.set_zlabel('Z Label')

Display the Plot

We display the plot using the plt.show() function.

plt.show()

Summary

In this lab, we learned how to create a 3D plot using Matplotlib in Python. We started by importing the necessary libraries, then created the data, figure and axes objects, and finally created and displayed the plot.