plotmatrix

Scatter plot matrix

Syntax

plotmatrix(X,Y)

plotmatrix(X)

plotmatrix(___,LineSpec)

plotmatrix(ax,___)

[S,AX,BigAx,H,HAx]
= plotmatrix(___)

Description

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)). The tick labels along the edges of the plots align with the scatter plots, not the histograms.

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.

example

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

[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.

example

Examples

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Create Scatter Plot Matrix with Two Matrix Inputs

Open Live Script

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 Scatter Plot Matrix with One Matrix Input

Open Live Script

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

Specify Marker Type and Color

Open Live Script

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.

Modify Scatter Plot Matrix After Creation

Open Live Script

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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`X` — Data to display
matrix

Data to display, specified as a matrix.

`Y` — Data to plot against `X`
matrix

Data to plot against X, specified as a matrix.

`LineSpec` — Line style, marker, and color
string scalar | character vector

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 Style	Description	Resulting Line
`"-"`	Solid line
`"--"`	Dashed line
`":"`	Dotted line
`"-."`	Dash-dotted line

Marker	Description	Resulting Marker
`"o"`	Circle
`"+"`	Plus sign
`"*"`	Asterisk
`"."`	Point
`"x"`	Cross
`"_"`	Horizontal line
`"\|"`	Vertical line
`"square"`	Square
`"diamond"`	Diamond
`"^"`	Upward-pointing triangle
`"v"`	Downward-pointing triangle
`">"`	Right-pointing triangle
`"<"`	Left-pointing triangle
`"pentagram"`	Pentagram
`"hexagram"`	Hexagram

Color Name	Short Name	RGB Triplet
`"red"`	`"r"`	`[1 0 0]`
`"green"`	`"g"`	`[0 1 0]`
`"blue"`	`"b"`	`[0 0 1]`
`"cyan"`	`"c"`	`[0 1 1]`
`"magenta"`	`"m"`	`[1 0 1]`
`"yellow"`	`"y"`	`[1 1 0]`
`"black"`	`"k"`	`[0 0 0]`
`"white"`	`"w"`	`[1 1 1]`

`ax` — Target axes
`Axes` object

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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`S` — Chart line objects for scatter plots
matrix

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.

`AX` — Axes objects for subaxes
matrix

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.

`BigAx` — Axes object for big axes
scalar

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.

`H` — Histogram objects
vector | []

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.

`HAx` — Axes objects for invisible histogram axes
vector | []

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

GPU Arrays
Accelerate code by running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.

The plotmatrix function supports GPU array input with these usage notes and limitations:

This function accepts GPU arrays, but does not run on a GPU.

For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions on a GPU (Parallel Computing Toolbox).

Distributed Arrays
Partition large arrays across the combined memory of your cluster using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.

Usage notes and limitations:

This function operates on distributed arrays, but executes in the client MATLAB^®.

For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions with Distributed Arrays (Parallel Computing Toolbox).

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

expand all

R2015b: H returned as vector of histogram objects

The H output argument is now a vector of histogram objects. In previous releases, it was a vector of patch objects.

plotmatrix

Syntax

Description

Examples

Create Scatter Plot Matrix with Two Matrix Inputs

Create Scatter Plot Matrix with One Matrix Input

Specify Marker Type and Color

Modify Scatter Plot Matrix After Creation

Input Arguments

X — Data to display matrix

Y — Data to plot against X matrix

LineSpec — Line style, marker, and color string scalar | character vector

ax — Target axes Axes object

Output Arguments

S — Chart line objects for scatter plots matrix

AX — Axes objects for subaxes matrix

BigAx — Axes object for big axes scalar

H — Histogram objects vector | []

HAx — Axes objects for invisible histogram axes vector | []

Extended Capabilities

GPU Arrays Accelerate code by running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.

Distributed Arrays Partition large arrays across the combined memory of your cluster using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.

Version History

R2015b: H returned as vector of histogram objects

See Also

`X` — Data to display
matrix

`Y` — Data to plot against `X`
matrix

`LineSpec` — Line style, marker, and color
string scalar | character vector

`ax` — Target axes
`Axes` object

`S` — Chart line objects for scatter plots
matrix

`AX` — Axes objects for subaxes
matrix

`BigAx` — Axes object for big axes
scalar

`H` — Histogram objects
vector | []

`HAx` — Axes objects for invisible histogram axes
vector | []

GPU Arrays
Accelerate code by running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.

Distributed Arrays
Partition large arrays across the combined memory of your cluster using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.