> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://vecco-insight.gitbook.io/crash-visualization/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://vecco-insight.gitbook.io/crash-visualization/matplotlib.md).

# 3. Matplotlib

![](/files/-MBJnbChJktxqJ0EQRNd)

[Matplotlib ](https://matplotlib.org/tutorials/index.html)is a plotting library for the [Python](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_\(programming_language\)) programming language and its numerical mathematics extension [NumPy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NumPy).  

**`Pyplot`** is a Matplotlib module which provides a MATLAB-like interface. Matplotlib is designed to be as usable as MATLAB, with the ability to use Python and the advantage of being free and open-source.

### 1. Installing an official release

Matplotlib and its dependencies are available as wheel packages for macOS, Windows and Linux distributions:

```
python -m pip install -U pip
python -m pip install -U matplotlib
```

###

### 2. Elements of Figure

Matplotlib graphs your data on [**`Figure`**](https://matplotlib.org/api/_as_gen/matplotlib.figure.Figure.html#matplotlib.figure.Figure)s (i.e., windows), each of which can contain one or more [**`Axes`**](https://matplotlib.org/api/axes_api.html#matplotlib.axes.Axes) (i.e., an area where points can be specified in terms of x-y coordinates (or theta-r in a polar plot, or x-y-z in a 3D plot, etc.). The most simple way of creating a figure with axes is using [**`pyplot.subplots`**](https://matplotlib.org/api/_as_gen/matplotlib.pyplot.subplots.html#matplotlib.pyplot.subplots).

{% hint style="info" %}
let's have a deeper look at the components of a Matplotlib figure.
{% endhint %}

![ Anatomy of a figure](/files/-MBTZt1tdzxKAtUwQkmO)

### 3. Check and Quickstart

```
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt   # import the data exploration package
import numpy as np                # import the data computing package
```

### 4. Content

* [3.1 Basic Concepts](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/basic-plot.md)
* [3.2 Line Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/1.2-line-chart-plot.md)
* [3.3 Area Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/3.3-area-plot.md)
* [3.4 Column Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/1.3-column-chart-plot.md)
* [3.5 Histogram Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/1.4-histogram-plot.md)
* [3.6 Scatter Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/1.5-pie-chart-plot.md)
* [3.7 Lollipop Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/3.7-lollipop-plot.md)
* [3.8 Pie Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/untitled.md)
* [3.9 Venn Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/3.9-venn-chart.md)
* [3.10 Waffle Chart](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/3.10-waffle-chart.md)
* [3.11 Animation](/crash-visualization/matplotlib/3.11-animation.md)