The Legend in Matplotlib
Matplotlib is an open-source data visualization library that provides a wide range of tools and functions for creating stunning visualizations. In this article, we will be discussing the legend in Matplotlib and how to use the legend function to customize our plots.
Definition, Purpose, and Location of the Legend
The legend is an important feature of any plot, as it provides information about the different entities present in the plot and helps in understanding the data. It is typically placed in the top-right or top-left corner of the plot, and it is contained in a box that distinguishes it from the plot itself.
The primary purpose of the legend is to help interpret the plot and better understand the data represented. It provides additional context for the plot, such as labels, colors, and other parameters that can help in identifying different entities and understanding their significance.
The location of the legend is decided by the user and can be customized as per the requirements. Matplotlib provides several options to customize the location of the legend, such as the location of the box and its position relative to the plot. These options can be set using the location parameter in the legend() function in Matplotlib.
Using the Legend Function in Matplotlib
Matplotlib provides an easy-to-use function called legend() that is used to create and customize the legend. The legend() function takes several parameters that help in customizing different aspects of the legend, such as its location, size, color, etc. The legend() function can be called after the plot has been created using the plot() function.
The entities to be included in the legend can be specified using the label parameter while calling the plot() function. For example, if we have two lines in our plot, we can specify the labels for each line using the label parameter, as shown below:
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
x = np.linspace(0, 10, 100)
y1 = np.sin(x)
y2 = np.cos(x)
plt.plot(x, y1, label='sin(x)')
plt.plot(x, y2, label='cos(x)')
plt.legend()
plt.show()In the above example, we have created two lines using the plot() function, and specified their labels using the label parameter. The legend() function is then called to create the legend box in the top-right corner of the plot.
The labels of the entities present in the plot are assigned automatically if the label parameter is not specified while calling the plot() function. However, it is always a good practice to specify the labels manually to provide clarity and accuracy for the data visualization.
Conclusion
Overall, the legend is a vital component in Matplotlib that helps in interpreting data visualizations. With the help of the legend() function, we can easily create and customize legends as per our requirements. The location of the legend can be customized along with numerous other options to make the visualization more informative and aesthetically pleasing. Use the legend function in Matplotlib and give your data visualization a polished look.
Creating a Simple Legend in Matplotlib
When creating a data visualization plot, it is essential to include a legend so that the reader can easily understand the data being presented. Matplotlib offers a customizable legend function that can be added to any plot.
In this section, we’ll walk through an example of creating a simple legend in Matplotlib by plotting even and odd prime numbers. First, let’s import the necessary libraries and data to plot.
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
import numpy as np
x = np.linspace(0, 20, 21)
Even = [2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20]
Odd = [1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19]
Prime = [2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19]In the code above, we have created a simple data set for even, odd, and prime numbers using the numpy library. In the next step, we’ll use the plot() function to plot the data and label them.
plt.plot(x, Even, label='Even Numbers')
plt.plot(x, Odd, label='Odd Numbers')
plt.plot(x, Prime, label='Prime Numbers')In the code above, we have used the plot() function which will plot the three different data sets. We have also added a label parameter which will label each line with their respective variable names.
To create the legend, we’ll use the legend() function and specify the title of the legend.
plt.legend(title='Legend')
plt.show()In the code above, we’ve used the legend() function to create the legend, added a title parameter to give the legend a title, and showed the plot using the show() function.
Placing the Legend Outside the Plot in Matplotlib
Placing the legend outside the plot in Matplotlib can make the visualization more clear and visually appealing. In this section, we’ll explore different ways to place the legend outside the plot.
Using bbox_to_anchor to place the legend outside the plot
The bbox_to_anchor parameter in the legend() function allows us to set the location of the legend. This parameter is used to define the coordinates of the legend box and is defined as (x,y). Here, x and y are the coordinates of the lower-left corner of the box.
plt.legend(bbox_to_anchor=(1.05, 1), loc='upper left')In the code above, we have set the parameter bbox_to_anchor to (1.05, 1), which is beyond the right border of the plot. This means that the legend box will be outside the plot to the right. The loc parameter is used along with bbox_to_anchor to specify where the legend should be placed.
Placing the legend on the border of the plot
To place the legend box outside the plot at the right side, we can use the bbox_to_anchor parameter in combination with the loc parameter.
plt.legend(loc='center left', bbox_to_anchor=(1, 0.5))In the code above, we have set the location parameter to center left and bbox_to_anchor to (1,0.5), which causes the legend box to be located outside the plot to the right.
Using the loc parameter to create a unique legend on top of the plot
The loc parameter in the legend() function allows us to set the location of the legend using a string value. One option is to position the legend in the center right.
plt.legend(loc='center right', shadow=True, fancybox=True, ncol=1)In the above code, we’ve set the loc parameter to center right. Setting the shadow and fancybox parameters to True adds a shadow effect and a box around the legend, respectively. The ncol parameter specifies that we want to display a single column of labels in the legend box.
Conclusion
Creating a legend in Matplotlib allows the reader to easily understand the information presented in a data visualization. The legend function can be tailored to make the plot easier to read and visually appealing.
By using parameters such as the bbox_to_anchor, location, shadow, and ncol, it is possible to customize the legend and make it more informative. In this article, we’ve discussed the legend in Matplotlib, its definition and purpose, along with the steps to create a simple and customized legend.
The legend is an essential feature in data visualization as it provides context and detail to the information presented in the plot.
To create a simple legend in Matplotlib, we use the legend() function, which takes input from the plot() function and creates a legend box that displays the required information.
The legend can be customized according to our requirements by using parameters such as location, title, shadow, and various others.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when creating a legend is to label the data accurately. This will ensure that the reader understands the data properly, as the legend is essentially a key to the plot.
Furthermore, the legend can be placed outside the plot area to make the visualization more clear and concise. We can use the bbox_to_anchor parameter along with the loc parameter to specify the location of the legend box.
Placing the legend on the border of the plot can give it a more professional look and also save space within the plot area.
Using the loc parameter in the legend() function gives us more control over the placement of the legend box. We can choose from a range of strings to define the location of the legend as per our requirements, such as upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right, and many others.
In conclusion, the legend is an essential feature of data visualization in Matplotlib. By using the legend() function and its various parameters, we can create a wide range of customizations that make the plot informative and visually appealing.
The legend allows the reader to interpret the data presented, making it useful for a range of applications in the real world. In summary, the legend in Matplotlib is an essential feature in visualizing data.
It provides context and detail to the information presented in the plot and helps readers interpret the data accurately. The legend() function provides a variety of customizable features that we can use to create visually appealing and informative data visualizations.
We can place the legend outside the plot area, on the border of the plot, or on top of the plot, depending on our needs. The main takeaway from this article is that creating a clear and accurate legend is crucial in data visualization.
Accurate labeling is important, and the location of the legend should be chosen carefully, based on the requirements of the visualization. Overall, a well-designed legend can help readers understand the data presented and can make all the difference in creating engaging and informative visualizations.