matplot {base} | R Documentation

## Plot Columns of Matrices

### Description

Plot the columns of one matrix against the columns of another.

### Usage

    matplot(x, y, type = "p", lty = 1:5, lwd = 1, pch = NULL, col = 1:6,
            xlab = NULL, ylab = NULL, xlim = NULL, ylim = NULL,
            ..., add = FALSE)
    matpoints(x, y, type = "p", lty = 1:5, lwd = 1, pch = NULL, col = 1:6, ...)
    matlines (x, y, type = "l", lty = 1:5, lwd = 1, pch = NULL, col = 1:6, ...)

### Arguments

`x,y` | vectors or matrices of data for plotting. The number of rows should match. If one of them are missing, the other is taken as `y` and an `x` vector of `1:n` is used. Missing values (`NA`s) are allowed.
`type` | character string, telling which type of plot (`"p"`, points; `"l"`, lines; `"b"`, both; `"o"`, overplotted both; `"n"`, none; or `"h"`, high-density) should be done for each column of `y`. The first character of `type` defines the first plot, the second character the second, etc. Characters in `type` are cycled through; e.g., `"pl"` alternately plots points and lines.
`lty,lwd` | vector of line types and widths. The first element is for the first column, the second element for the second column, etc., even if lines are not plotted for all columns. Line types will be used cyclically until all plots are drawn.
`pch` | character string (length 1 vector) or vector of 1-character strings for plotting-characters. The first character is the plotting-character for the first plot, the second for the second, etc. The default is the digits (1 through 9, 0) then the letters.
`col` | vector of colors. Colors are used cyclically.
`xlim, ylim` | ranges of x and y axes, as in `plot`.
`xlab, ylab` | titles for x and y axes, as in `plot`.
`...` | Graphical parameters (see `par`) may also be supplied as arguments to this function. In addition, the high-level graphics control arguments described under `par` and the arguments to `title` may be supplied to this function.
`add` | logical. If `TRUE`, plots are added to current one, using `points` and `lines`.
`verbose` | logical. If `TRUE`, write one line of what is done.

### Details

Points involving missing values are not plotted.

The first column of `x` is plotted against the first column of `y`, the second column of `x` against the second column of `y`, etc. If one matrix has fewer columns, plotting will cycle back through the columns again. (In particular, either `x` or `y` may be a vector, against which all columns of the other argument will be plotted.)

Because plotting symbols are drawn with lines and because these functions may be changing the line style, you should probably specify `lty=1` when using plotting symbols.

### Side Effects

Function `matplot` generates a new plot; `matpoints` and `matlines` add to the current one.

### See Also

`plot`, `points`, `lines`, `matrix`, `par`.

### Examples

    matplot((-4:5)^2, main = "Quadratic")
    sines <- outer(1:20, 1:4, function(x, y) sin(x / 20 * pi * y))
    matplot(sines, type = "o", col = rainbow(ncol(sines)))

    x <- 0:100/100
    matplot(x, outer(x, 1:8, function(x, k) sin(k * pi * x)),
            type = "l", col = 1:8, ylim = c(-2,2))

    data(iris)                  # is data.frame with  `Species' factor
    table(iris$Species)
    iS <- iris$Species == "setosa"
    iV <- iris$Species == "versicolor"
    op <- par(bg = "bisque")
    matplot(c(1, 8), c(0, 4.5), type= "n", xlab = "Length", ylab = "Width",
            main = "Petal and Sepal Dimensions in Iris Blossoms")
    matpoints(iris[iS,c(1,3)], iris[iS,c(2,4)], pch = "sS", col = c(2,4))
    matpoints(iris[iV,c(1,3)], iris[iV,c(2,4)], pch = "vV", col = c(2,4))
    legend(1, 4, c("    Setosa Petals", "    Setosa Sepals",
                   "Versicolor Petals", "Versicolor Sepals"),
           pch = "sSvV", col = rep(c(2,4), 2))

    nam.var <- colnames(iris)[-5]
    nam.spec <- as.character(iris[1+50*0:2, "Species"])
    iris.S <- array(NA, dim = c(50,4,3), dimnames = list(NULL, nam.var, nam.spec))
    for(i in 1:3) iris.S[,,i] <- data.matrix(iris[1:50+50*(i-1), -5])

    matplot(iris.S[,"Petal.Length",], iris.S[,"Petal.Width",], pch="SCV",
            col = rainbow(3, start = .8, end = .1),
            sub = paste(c("S", "C", "V"), dimnames(iris.S)[[3]],
                        sep = "=", collapse= ",  "),
            main = "Fisher's Iris Data")

[Package Contents]