Matplotlib – downloading modules using pip

The usual way to download additional Python modules is by using pip. The pip module comes pre-installed with the latest version of Python (3.4 and above).

Note

If you are using an older version of Python, you might have to download both pip and setuptools yourself.

In addition to using the Python installer, there are several other precompiled Windows executables that make it easy for us to install Python modules such as Matplotlib.

This recipe will show how to successfully install Matplotlib via a Windows executable, as well as using pip in order to install the additional modules that the Matplotlib library requires.

Getting ready

All we need to do to download the required Python modules to use the Matplotlib module is to have a Python release of 3.4 (or later) installed on our PC.

How to do it...

We can install Matplotlib via a Windows executable from the official Matplotlib website.

Make sure you install the Matplotlib version that matches the Python version...