Chapter 3. Graphics with matplotlib

This chapter explores matplotlib, an IPython library for production of publication-quality graphs. In this chapter, the following topics will be discussed:

• Two-dimensional plots using the plot function and setting up line widths, colors, and styles
• Plot configuration and annotation
• Three-dimensional plots
• Animations

Being an IPython library, matplotlib consists of a hierarchy of classes, and it is possible to code using it in the usual object-oriented style. However, matplotlib also supports an interactive mode. In this mode, the graphs are constructed step-by-step, thus adding and configuring each component at a time. We lay emphasis on the second approach since it is designed for the rapid production of graphs. The object-oriented style will be explained whenever it is needed or leads to better results.

Note

The sense in which the word interactive is used in this context is somewhat different from what is understood today. Graphs produced by matplotlib...