Graphing Basics

Matlab offers some of the most diverse, professional, and customizable visualization and graphing abilities out there, and they’re a standard for high-end publications like scientific journal articles! Here you'll get to know the basics by messing around directly in the figures palette.

Alternative Ways To Access Graphing Features

As of version 2024b, Matlab is currently transitioning its figure editing interface.

Online Version:

1. Visit: web page;
2. Browse the list of plots;
3. Click on the name of any plot to bring up details, syntax, and examples.

Offline:

1. Use the Plots Gallery (under the Plots tab) to find the name of a plot that interests you;
2. Insert the following code in the Command Window, then hit enter to execute:

This will open all the details, syntax, and examples from a local file on your computer and display it in your web browser. For example, executing the code below:


Will bring up all details, syntax, and examples for the bar3 plot.

Properties Inspector

With a figure open, this can be found by clicking Edit on the top menu, then Figure Properties.


Adding Axes Labels, Legends, Etc.

With a figure open, these features can be added by clicking Insert on the top menu, then selecting the feature you want.


Graphing in Dark Mode

The Plots Catalog button doesn’t appear in the dark mode version, but can be accessed by the alternative means described above.

Adjusting the graphics and apps theme under preferences (this will keep all figures in light mode)

Adjusting the color theme under the format tab (this will only change the theme of the current figure)

Task

Mess around and make some graphs!

• Look in the Plots Catalog and find a graph that interests you;
• Check out what input information is required to create the graph;
• Create the graph, and try modifying some parameters so that it’s more to your liking;
• Repeat!

1. Organize Information Properly
   The way information is structured into variables is crucial for creating effective graphs in MATLAB.
2. Utilize the Plots Catalog
   • The Plots Catalog contains all the details needed to create and customize graphs;
   • If you're stuck, run one of the provided examples to get started.
3. Accessing Example Data
   • Data files referenced in the Plots Catalog are usually stored in MATLAB’s internal files;
   • You can directly reference these files as shown in the examples.
4. Highlight the Correct Part of the Figure
   • Tick Properties: to change tick properties on the axes, highlight the axes by clicking on them. The Properties Inspector will display the available options;
   • General Properties: to change overall figure properties, click towards the exterior of the figure to access the general settings;
   • Plot Properties: to adjust bars, line plots, or other plot-specific elements, click directly on those elements to highlight them.