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:

Try it Yourself »

Example

Mark each point with a star:

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

Result:

Try it Yourself »


Marker Reference

You can choose any of these markers:

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

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:

Try it Yourself »

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 Try it »
':' Dotted line Try it »
'--' Dashed line Try it »
'-.' Dashed/dotted line Try it »

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 Try it »
'g' Green Try it »
'b' Blue Try it »
'c' Cyan Try it »
'm' Magenta Try it »
'y' Yellow Try it »
'k' Black Try it »
'w' White Try it »

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:

Try it Yourself »

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:

Try it Yourself »

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:

Try it Yourself »

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:

Try it Yourself »

You can also use Hexadecimal color values:

Example

Mark each point with a beautiful green color:

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

Result:

Try it Yourself »

Or any of the 140 supported color names.

Example

Mark each point with the color named "hotpink":

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

Result:

Try it Yourself »

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