Book Image

Matplotlib for Python Developers - Second Edition

By : Aldrin Yim, Claire Chung, Allen Yu
Book Image

Matplotlib for Python Developers - Second Edition

By: Aldrin Yim, Claire Chung, Allen Yu

Overview of this book

Python is a general-purpose programming language increasingly being used for data analysis and visualization. Matplotlib is a popular data visualization package in Python used to design effective plots and graphs. This is a practical, hands-on resource to help you visualize data with Python using the Matplotlib library. Matplotlib for Python Developers, Second Edition shows you how to create attractive graphs, charts, and plots using Matplotlib. You will also get a quick introduction to third-party packages, Seaborn, Pandas, Basemap, and Geopandas, and learn how to use them with Matplotlib. After that, you’ll embed and customize your plots in third-party tools such as GTK+3, Qt 5, and wxWidgets. You’ll also be able to tweak the look and feel of your visualization with the help of practical examples provided in this book. Further on, you’ll explore Matplotlib 2.1.x on the web, from a cloud-based platform using third-party packages such as Django. Finally, you will integrate interactive, real-time visualization techniques into your current workflow with the help of practical real-world examples. By the end of this book, you’ll be thoroughly comfortable with using the popular Python data visualization library Matplotlib 2.1.x and leveraging its power to build attractive, insightful, and powerful visualizations.
Table of Contents (16 chapters)
Title Page
Dedication
Packt Upsell
Contributors
Preface
Index

Matplotlib graphical backends


The code for plotting graphs is considered the frontend in Matplotlib's terminology. We first mentioned backends in Chapter 1Introduction to Matplotlib, when we were talking about output formats. In reality, Matplotlib backends have much more differences than just support for graphical formats. Backends handle so many things behind the scenes! And that would determine the support of plotting capabilities. For example, the LaTeX text layout is supported only by Agg, PDF, PGF, and PS backends.

Non-interactive backends

We have been using several non-interactive backends so far, which include Agg, Cairo, GDK, PDF, PGF, PS, and SVG. Most of these backends work without extra dependencies, but Cairo and GDK require the Cairo graphics library or GIMP Drawing Kit, respectively, to work.

Non-interactive backends can be further classified into two groups—vector or raster. Vector graphics describe images in terms of points, paths, and shapes that are calculated using mathematical...