Matplotlib Markers


Markers

You can use the keyword argument marker to emphasize each point with a specified marker:

Example

Mark each point with a circle:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o')
plt.show()

Result:

Example

Mark each point with a star:

...
plt.plot(ypoints, marker = '*')
...

Result:



Marker Reference

You can choose any of these markers:

Marker Description
'o' Circle
'*' Star
'.' Point
',' Pixel
'x' X
'X' X (filled)
'+' Plus
'P' Plus (filled)
's' Square
'D' Diamond
'd' Diamond (thin)
'p' Pentagon
'H' Hexagon
'h' Hexagon
'v' Triangle Down
'^' Triangle Up
'<' Triangle Left
'>' Triangle Right
'1' Tri Down
'2' Tri Up
'3' Tri Left
'4' Tri Right
'|' Vline
'_' Hline

Format Strings fmt

You can also use the shortcut string notation parameter to specify the marker.

This parameter is also called fmt, and is written with this syntax:

marker|line|color

Example

Mark each point with a circle:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, 'o:r')
plt.show()

Result:

The marker value can be anything from the Marker Reference above.

The line value can be one of the following:

Line Reference

Line Syntax Description
'-' Solid line
':' Dotted line
'--' Dashed line
'-.' Dashed/dotted line

Note: If you leave out the line value in the fmt parameter, no line will be plotted.

The short color value can be one of the following:

Color Reference

Color Syntax Description
'r' Red
'g' Green
'b' Blue
'c' Cyan
'm' Magenta
'y' Yellow
'k' Black
'w' White

Marker Size

You can use the keyword argument markersize or the shorter version, ms to set the size of the markers:

Example

Set the size of the markers to 20:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20)
plt.show()

Result:


Marker Color

You can use the keyword argument markeredgecolor or the shorter mec to set the color of the edge of the markers:

Example

Set the EDGE color to red:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mec = 'r')
plt.show()

Result:

You can use the keyword argument markerfacecolor or the shorter mfc to set the color inside the edge of the markers:

Example

Set the FACE color to red:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mfc = 'r')
plt.show()

Result:

Use both the mec and mfc arguments to color the entire marker:

Example

Set the color of both the edge and the face to red:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mec = 'r', mfc = 'r')
plt.show()

Result:

You can also use :

Example

Mark each point with a beautiful green color:

...
plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mec = '#4CAF50', mfc = '#4CAF50')
...

Result:

Or any of the .

Example

Mark each point with the color named "hotpink":

...
plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mec = 'hotpink', mfc = 'hotpink')
...

Result:



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