How to set the line properties of a grid in matplotlib
Overview
Plots in matplotlib represent the visualization of a given data. These plots require numerous properties to enhance the visuals. One of these properties is the gridline.
A gridline is a series of intersecting straight lines that show axis division. Apart from data visualization tools like Microsoft Excel, pandas, powerbi, and so on, the matplot library (matplotlib) also comes with several features. These features enhance and change the visualization (figure, plot, etc.) of a data set. In this shot, we’ll learn about the feature of matplotlib that helps us set line properties of a gridline in a plot.
Before we proceed, let’s see how we can add a grid to a plot in matplotlib
Adding gridlines to a plot
The pyplot module in matplotlib has a grid() function that adds a grid line to a plot.
Example
The following example demonstrates the use of pyplot.grid() to add a grid to a plot:
import matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport numpy as npx= np.array([1, 5])y = np.array([10, 20])plt.plot(x, y)# usig the title() methodplt.title('Y against X')# using the xlabel() and ylabel() methodsplt.xlabel("x axis")plt.ylabel("y axis")# adding the grid using the grid() functionplt.grid()plt.show()
Code Explanation
- Line 1: We import the
pyplotmodule from thematplot library - Line 2: We import the
numpymodule. - Line 4: We create an array variable x using the
numpy.array()method. - Line 5: We create another array variable y using the
numpy.array()method. - Line 7: We plot the y against x ( x on the x-axis and y on the y-axis) using the
pyplot.plot()method. - Line 10: We give a title to our plot using the
pyplot.title()method. - Line 12: We give a label to the x-axis of our plot using the
pyplot.xlabel()method. - Line 13: We give a label to the y-axis of our plot using the
pyplot.ylabel()method. - Line 15: We add a grid to the plot using the
pyplot.grid()function. - Line 16: It shows us our plot using the
pyplot.show()method.
Properties of a grid line
The pyplot.grid() function takes the following parameters:
color: Specifies the color we want. For example,red,green,yellow,black, and so on.linestyle- Specifies the style we want on the line. For example, dashed’—‘, solid’-‘, dashdot’-.’, and so on.linewidth: specifies the grid line’s size. Positive integers are the values.
This function is always written like the code below:
grid(color = 'color', linestyle = 'linestyle', linewidth = number).
Code
import matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport numpy as npx= np.array([1, 5])y = np.array([10, 20])plt.plot(x, y)# usig the title() methodplt.title('Y against X')# using the xlabel() and ylabel() methodsplt.xlabel("x axis")plt.ylabel("y axis")# adding the grid using the grid() function propertiesplt.grid(color = 'red', linestyle = '-', linewidth=5)plt.show()
Explanation
The code above is similar to the first one with some minor changes:
- Line 15: We set properties for the
pyplot.grid()where thecolorwe chose isred,linestyle = solid, and thelinewidthof5for the grid.