Matplotlib Markers

Markers

You can use the keyword argument marker to emphasize each point with a specified marker:

Example

Mark each point with a circle:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o')
plt.show()

Result:

Try it Yourself »

Example

Mark each point with a star:

...
plt.plot(ypoints, marker = '*')
...

Result:

Try it Yourself »

Marker Reference

You can choose any of these markers:

Marker	Description
'o'	Circle	Try it »
'*'	Star	Try it »
'.'	Point	Try it »
','	Pixel	Try it »
'x'	X	Try it »
'X'	X (filled)	Try it »
'+'	Plus	Try it »
'P'	Plus (filled)	Try it »
's'	Square	Try it »
'D'	Diamond	Try it »
'd'	Diamond (thin)	Try it »
'p'	Pentagon	Try it »
'H'	Hexagon	Try it »
'h'	Hexagon	Try it »
'v'	Triangle Down	Try it »
'^'	Triangle Up	Try it »
'<'	Triangle Left	Try it »
'>'	Triangle Right	Try it »
'1'	Tri Down	Try it »
'2'	Tri Up	Try it »
'3'	Tri Left	Try it »
'4'	Tri Right	Try it »
'\|'	Vline	Try it »
'_'	Hline	Try it »

Format Strings `fmt`

You can also use the shortcut string notation parameter to specify the marker.

This parameter is also called fmt, and is written with this syntax:

marker|line|color

Example

Mark each point with a circle:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, 'o:r')
plt.show()

Result:

Try it Yourself »

The marker value can be anything from the Marker Reference above.

The line value can be one of the following:

Line Reference

Line Syntax	Description
'-'	Solid line	Try it »
':'	Dotted line	Try it »
'--'	Dashed line	Try it »
'-.'	Dashed/dotted line	Try it »

Note: If you leave out the line value in the fmt parameter, no line will be plotted.

The short color value can be one of the following:

Color Reference

Color Syntax	Description
'r'	Red	Try it »
'g'	Green	Try it »
'b'	Blue	Try it »
'c'	Cyan	Try it »
'm'	Magenta	Try it »
'y'	Yellow	Try it »
'k'	Black	Try it »
'w'	White	Try it »

Marker Size

You can use the keyword argument markersize or the shorter version, ms to set the size of the markers:

Example

Set the size of the markers to 20:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20)
plt.show()

Result:

Try it Yourself »

Marker Color

You can use the keyword argument markeredgecolor or the shorter mec to set the color of the edge of the markers:

Example

Set the EDGE color to red:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mec = 'r')
plt.show()

Result:

Try it Yourself »

You can use the keyword argument markerfacecolor or the shorter mfc to set the color inside the edge of the markers:

Example

Set the FACE color to red:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mfc = 'r')
plt.show()

Result:

Try it Yourself »

Use both the mec and mfc arguments to color the entire marker:

Example

Set the color of both the edge and the face to red:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

ypoints = np.array([3, 8, 1, 10])

plt.plot(ypoints, marker = 'o', ms = 20, mec = 'r', mfc = 'r')
plt.show()