Matplotlib Axis Configuration Functions

Matplotlib 参考文档Matplotlib Reference Documentation

These functions are used to control the range, scale, ticks, grid lines, and appearance of the axes.

Function Overview

FunctionDescription
xlim() / ylim()Get or set the x/y axis range
xscale() / yscale()Set the x/y axis scale: 'linear', 'log', 'symlog', 'logit'
xticks() / yticks()Get or set x/y axis tick positions and labels
tick_params()Adjust tick appearance parameters
ticklabel_format()Set tick label format (scientific notation, etc.)
locator_params()Control tick locator parameters
minorticks_on() / minorticks_off()Show/hide minor ticks
rgrids()Set radial grid lines for polar plots
thetagrids()Set angular grid lines for polar plots
grid()Turn grid lines on or off
axis()Conveniently set axis range and appearance
box()Toggle the Axes border lines
autoscale()Autoscale the axes

xlim() / ylim() - Axis Range

matplotlib.pyplot.xlim(*args, **kwargs)  # 获取或设置
matplotlib.pyplot.ylim(*args, **kwargs)

xscale() / yscale() - Axis Scale

matplotlib.pyplot.xscale(value, **kwargs)
matplotlib.pyplot.yscale(value, **kwargs)
# value: 'linear', 'log', 'symlog', 'logit', 'function', 'asinh', ...

xticks() / yticks() - Ticks

matplotlib.pyplot.xticks(ticks=None, labels=None, **kwargs)
matplotlib.pyplot.yticks(ticks=None, labels=None, **kwargs)

tick_params() - Tick Appearance

matplotlib.pyplot.tick_params(axis='both', **kwargs)
# 常用参数: labelsize, labelcolor, rotation, direction, length, width, colors

ticklabel_format() - Tick Label Format

matplotlib.pyplot.ticklabel_format(*, axis='both', style='',
    scilimits=None, useOffset=None, useLocale=None, useMathText=None)

grid() - Grid Lines

matplotlib.pyplot.grid(visible=None, which='major', axis='both',
    **kwargs)

axis() - Convenience Function for Axis Appearance

matplotlib.pyplot.axis(*args, **kwargs)
# 可接受字符串: 'on', 'off', 'equal', 'scaled', 'tight', 'auto', 'square'
# 可接受列表: [xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax]

box() - Border Lines

matplotlib.pyplot.box(on=None)

autoscale() - Autoscale

matplotlib.pyplot.autoscale(enable=True, axis='both', tight=None)

locator_params() / minorticks

matplotlib.pyplot.locator_params(axis='both', tight=None, **kwargs)
matplotlib.pyplot.minorticks_on()
matplotlib.pyplot.minorticks_off()

Usage Examples

Example 1: Comprehensive Axis Configuration

Example

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

x = np.linspace(0.1, 100, 200)
y = x**2

fig, (ax1, ax2, ax3) = plt.subplots(1, 3, figsize=(14, 4),
                                     layout='constrained')

# Left plot: linear coordinates + custom ticks and grid
ax1.plot(x, y, 'steelblue')
ax1.set_xlim(0, 100)
ax1.set_ylim(0, 10000)
ax1.set_xticks([0, 25, 50, 75, 100])
ax1.set_yticks([0, 2500, 5000, 7500, 10000])
ax1.grid(True, linestyle='--', alpha=0.4)
ax1.set_title('Linear: custom ticks')

# Middle plot: log coordinates
ax2.loglog(x, y, 'coral')
ax2.grid(True, which='both', linestyle=':', alpha=0.4)
ax2.set_title('loglog()')

# Right plot: scientific notation
ax3.plot(x, y, 'green')
ax3.ticklabel_format(style='sci', axis='y',
                      scilimits=(0, 0))
ax3.minorticks_on()
ax3.grid(True, which='major', alpha=0.5)
ax3.grid(True, which='minor', alpha=0.15)
ax3.set_title('Scientific notation + minor ticks')

plt.show()

Example 2: Detailed tick_params Configuration

Example

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

x = np.linspace(0, 10, 100)
y = np.sin(x)

fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(8, 4), layout='constrained')
ax.plot(x, y, 'steelblue', linewidth=2)

# Configure tick appearance in detail
ax.tick_params(axis='x',              # x-axis only
               rotation=45,           # Rotate labels 45 degrees
               labelsize=10,          # Label size
               labelcolor='blue',     # Label color
               direction='in',        # Ticks point inward
               length=6,              # Tick length
               width=1.5)             # Tick width

ax.tick_params(axis='y',
               labelsize=12,
               labelcolor='red',
               direction='inout',     # Ticks on both the inside and outside
               length=8,
               width=2,
               colors='red')          # Both ticks and labels in red

ax.set_title('tick_params() Customization')
ax.grid(True, alpha=0.3)
plt.show()

Example 3: axis() and box()

Example

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

x = np.linspace(-5, 5, 100)

fig, axes = plt.subplots(2, 2, figsize=(8, 8),
                          layout='constrained')

# 'equal': x and y unit lengths are equal
axes[0,0].plot(x, np.sin(x))
axes[0,0].axis('equal')
axes[0,0].set_title("axis('equal')")

# 'square': square Axes
axes[0,1].plot(x, np.cos(x))
axes[0,1].axis('square')
axes[0,1].set_title("axis('square')")

# 'tight': tightly fit to the data
axes[1,0].plot(x, x**2)
axes[1,0].axis('tight')
axes[1,0].set_title("axis('tight')")

# box(False) removes the border
axes[1,1].plot(x, np.sin(x))
axes[1,1].box(False)
axes[1,1].set_title('box(False) - No frame')

plt.show()
print("example: axis config demo")

Matplotlib 参考文档Matplotlib Reference Documentation

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