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plotmatrix

Scatter plot matrix

  • Scatter plot matrix

Description

example

plotmatrix(X,Y) creates a matrix of subaxes containing scatter plots of the columns of X against the columns of Y. If X is p-by-n and Y is p-by-m, then plotmatrix produces an n-by-m matrix of subaxes.

example

plotmatrix(X) is the same as plotmatrix(X,X) except that the subaxes along the diagonal are replaced with histogram plots of the data in the corresponding column of X. For example, the subaxes along the diagonal in the ith column is replaced by histogram(X(:,i)).

example

plotmatrix(___,LineSpec) specifies the line style, marker symbol, and color for the scatter plots. The option LineSpec can be preceded by any of the input argument combinations in the previous syntaxes.

plotmatrix(ax,___) plots into the specified target axes, where the target axes is an invisible frame for the subaxes.

example

[S,AX,BigAx,H,HAx] = plotmatrix(___) returns the graphic objects created as follows:

  • S – Chart line objects for the scatter plots

  • AX – Axes objects for each subaxes

  • BigAx – Axes object for big axes that frames the subaxes

  • H – Histogram objects for the histogram plots

  • HAx – Axes objects for the invisible histogram axes

BigAx is left as the current axes (gca) so that a subsequent title, xlabel, or ylabel command centers text with respect to the big axes.

Examples

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Create X as a matrix of random data and Y as a matrix of integer values. Then, create a scatter plot matrix of the columns of X against the columns of Y.

X = randn(50,3);
Y = reshape(1:150,50,3);  
plotmatrix(X,Y)

MATLAB figure

The subplot in the ith row, jth column of the figure is a scatter plot of the ith column of Y against the jth column of X.

Create a scatter plot matrix of random data. The subplot in the ith row, jth column of the matrix is a scatter plot of the ith column of X against the jth column of X. Along the diagonal are histogram plots of each column of X.

X = randn(50,3);  
plotmatrix(X)

MATLAB figure

Create a scatter plot matrix of random data. Specify the marker type and the color for the scatter plots.

X = randn(50,3);  
plotmatrix(X,'*r')

MATLAB figure

The LineSpec option sets properties for the scatter plots. To set properties for the histogram plots, return the histogram objects.

Create a scatter plot matrix of random data.

rng default
X = randn(50,3);
[S,AX,BigAx,H,HAx] = plotmatrix(X);

MATLAB figure

To set properties for the scatter plots, use S. To set properties for the histograms, use H. To set axes properties, use AX, BigAx, and HAx. Use dot notation to set properties.

Set the color and marker type for the scatter plot in the lower left corner of the figure. Set the color for the histogram plot in the lower right corner. Use the title command to title the figure.

S(3).Color = 'g';
S(3).Marker = '*';  

H(3).EdgeColor = 'k';
H(3).FaceColor = 'g';  

title(BigAx,'A Comparison of Data Sets')

MATLAB figure

Input Arguments

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Data to display, specified as a matrix.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | logical

Data to plot against X, specified as a matrix.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | logical

Line style, marker, and color, specified as a string scalar or character vector containing symbols. The symbols can appear in any order. You do not need to specify all three characteristics (line style, marker, and color). For example, if you omit the line style and specify the marker, then the plot shows only the marker and no line.

Example: "--or" is a red dashed line with circle markers.

Line StyleDescriptionResulting Line
"-"Solid line

Sample of solid line

"--"Dashed line

Sample of dashed line

":"Dotted line

Sample of dotted line

"-."Dash-dotted line

Sample of dash-dotted line, with alternating dashes and dots

MarkerDescriptionResulting Marker
"o"Circle

Sample of circle marker

"+"Plus sign

Sample of plus sign marker

"*"Asterisk

Sample of asterisk marker

"."Point

Sample of point marker

"x"Cross

Sample of cross marker

"_"Horizontal line

Sample of horizontal line marker

"|"Vertical line

Sample of vertical line marker

"square"Square

Sample of square marker

"diamond"Diamond

Sample of diamond marker

"^"Upward-pointing triangle

Sample of upward-pointing triangle marker

"v"Downward-pointing triangle

Sample of downward-pointing triangle marker

">"Right-pointing triangle

Sample of right-pointing triangle marker

"<"Left-pointing triangle

Sample of left-pointing triangle marker

"pentagram"Pentagram

Sample of pentagram marker

"hexagram"Hexagram

Sample of hexagram marker

Color NameShort NameRGB TripletAppearance
"red""r"[1 0 0]

Sample of the color red

"green""g"[0 1 0]

Sample of the color green

"blue""b"[0 0 1]

Sample of the color blue

"cyan" "c"[0 1 1]

Sample of the color cyan

"magenta""m"[1 0 1]

Sample of the color magenta

"yellow""y"[1 1 0]

Sample of the color yellow

"black""k"[0 0 0]

Sample of the color black

"white""w"[1 1 1]

Sample of the color white

Target axes that frames all the subaxes, specified as an Axes object. If you do not specify this argument, then plotmatrix uses the current axes.

Output Arguments

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Chart line objects for the scatter plots, returned as a matrix. These are unique identifiers, which you can use to query and modify the properties of a specific scatter plot.

Axes objects for the subaxes, returned as a matrix. These are unique identifiers, which you can use to query and modify the properties of a specific subaxes.

Axes object for big axes, returned as a scalar. This is a unique identifier, which you can use to query and modify properties of the big axes.

Histogram objects, returned as a vector or []. These are unique identifiers, which you can use to query and modify the properties of a specific histogram object. If no histogram plots are created, then H is returned as empty brackets.

Axes objects for invisible histogram axes, returned as a vector or []. These are unique identifiers, which you can use to query and modify the properties of a specific axes. If no histogram plots are created, then HAx is returned as empty brackets.

Extended Capabilities

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

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