Marker reference

Matplotlib supports multiple categories of markers which are selected using the marker parameter of plot commands:

• Unfilled markers

• Filled markers

• Markers created from TeX symbols

• Markers created from Paths

For a list of all markers see also the matplotlib.markers documentation.

For example usages see Marker examples.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
from matplotlib.markers import MarkerStyle
from matplotlib.transforms import Affine2D

text_style = dict(horizontalalignment='right', verticalalignment='center',
                  fontsize=12, fontfamily='monospace')
marker_style = dict(linestyle=':', color='0.8', markersize=10,
                    markerfacecolor="tab:blue", markeredgecolor="tab:blue")


def format_axes(ax):
    ax.margins(0.2)
    ax.set_axis_off()
    ax.invert_yaxis()


def split_list(a_list):
    i_half = len(a_list) // 2
    return a_list[:i_half], a_list[i_half:]

Unfilled markers

Unfilled markers are single-colored.

fig, axs = plt.subplots(ncols=2)
fig.suptitle('Un-filled markers', fontsize=14)

# Filter out filled markers and marker settings that do nothing.
unfilled_markers = [m for m, func in Line2D.markers.items()
                    if func != 'nothing' and m not in Line2D.filled_markers]

for ax, markers in zip(axs, split_list(unfilled_markers)):
    for y, marker in enumerate(markers):
        ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(marker), **text_style)
        ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
    format_axes(ax)

Filled markers

fig, axs = plt.subplots(ncols=2)
fig.suptitle('Filled markers', fontsize=14)
for ax, markers in zip(axs, split_list(Line2D.filled_markers)):
    for y, marker in enumerate(markers):
        ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(marker), **text_style)
        ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
    format_axes(ax)

Marker fill styles

The edge color and fill color of filled markers can be specified separately. Additionally, the fillstyle can be configured to be unfilled, fully filled, or half-filled in various directions. The half-filled styles use markerfacecoloralt as secondary fill color.

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Marker fillstyle', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.4)

filled_marker_style = dict(marker='o', linestyle=':', markersize=15,
                           color='darkgrey',
                           markerfacecolor='tab:blue',
                           markerfacecoloralt='lightsteelblue',
                           markeredgecolor='brown')

for y, fill_style in enumerate(Line2D.fillStyles):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(fill_style), **text_style)
    ax.plot([y] * 3, fillstyle=fill_style, **filled_marker_style)
format_axes(ax)

Markers created from TeX symbols

Use MathText, to use custom marker symbols, like e.g. "$\u266B$". For an overview over the STIX font symbols refer to the STIX font table. Also see the STIX Fonts.

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Mathtext markers', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.4)

marker_style.update(markeredgecolor="none", markersize=15)
markers = ["$1$", r"$\frac{1}{2}$", "$f$", "$\u266B$", r"$\mathcal{A}$"]

for y, marker in enumerate(markers):
    # Escape dollars so that the text is written "as is", not as mathtext.
    ax.text(-0.5, y, repr(marker).replace("$", r"\$"), **text_style)
    ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
format_axes(ax)

Markers created from Paths

Any Path can be used as a marker. The following example shows two simple paths star and circle, and a more elaborate path of a circle with a cut-out star.

import numpy as np

import matplotlib.path as mpath

star = mpath.Path.unit_regular_star(6)
circle = mpath.Path.unit_circle()
# concatenate the circle with an internal cutout of the star
cut_star = mpath.Path(
    vertices=np.concatenate([circle.vertices, star.vertices[::-1, ...]]),
    codes=np.concatenate([circle.codes, star.codes]))

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Path markers', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.4)

markers = {'star': star, 'circle': circle, 'cut_star': cut_star}

for y, (name, marker) in enumerate(markers.items()):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, name, **text_style)
    ax.plot([y] * 3, marker=marker, **marker_style)
format_axes(ax)

Advanced marker modifications with transform

Markers can be modified by passing a transform to the MarkerStyle constructor. Following example shows how a supplied rotation is applied to several marker shapes.

common_style = {k: v for k, v in filled_marker_style.items() if k != 'marker'}
angles = [0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90]

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Rotated markers', fontsize=14)

ax.text(-0.5, 0, 'Filled marker', **text_style)
for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
    ax.plot(x, 0, marker=MarkerStyle('o', 'left', t), **common_style)

ax.text(-0.5, 1, 'Un-filled marker', **text_style)
for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
    ax.plot(x, 1, marker=MarkerStyle('1', 'left', t), **common_style)

ax.text(-0.5, 2, 'Equation marker', **text_style)
for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
    eq = r'$\frac{1}{x}$'
    ax.plot(x, 2, marker=MarkerStyle(eq, 'left', t), **common_style)

for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
    ax.text(x, 2.5, f"{theta}°", horizontalalignment="center")
format_axes(ax)

fig.tight_layout()

Setting marker cap style and join style

Markers have default cap and join styles, but these can be customized when creating a MarkerStyle.

from matplotlib.markers import CapStyle, JoinStyle

marker_inner = dict(markersize=35,
                    markerfacecolor='tab:blue',
                    markerfacecoloralt='lightsteelblue',
                    markeredgecolor='brown',
                    markeredgewidth=8,
                    )

marker_outer = dict(markersize=35,
                    markerfacecolor='tab:blue',
                    markerfacecoloralt='lightsteelblue',
                    markeredgecolor='white',
                    markeredgewidth=1,
                    )

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Marker CapStyle', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.1)

for y, cap_style in enumerate(CapStyle):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, cap_style.name, **text_style)
    for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
        t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
        m = MarkerStyle('1', transform=t, capstyle=cap_style)
        ax.plot(x, y, marker=m, **marker_inner)
        ax.plot(x, y, marker=m, **marker_outer)
        ax.text(x, len(CapStyle) - .5, f'{theta}°', ha='center')
format_axes(ax)

Modifying the join style:

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
fig.suptitle('Marker JoinStyle', fontsize=14)
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.05)

for y, join_style in enumerate(JoinStyle):
    ax.text(-0.5, y, join_style.name, **text_style)
    for x, theta in enumerate(angles):
        t = Affine2D().rotate_deg(theta)
        m = MarkerStyle('*', transform=t, joinstyle=join_style)
        ax.plot(x, y, marker=m, **marker_inner)
        ax.text(x, len(JoinStyle) - .5, f'{theta}°', ha='center')
format_axes(ax)

plt.show()

Tags: component: marker purpose: reference