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,
            cex = NULL, xlab = NULL, ylab = NULL, xlim = NULL, ylim = NULL,
            ..., add = FALSE, verbose = getOption("verbose"))
    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 (length 1 vector) or vector of 1-character strings indicating the type of plot for each column of `y`, see `plot` for all possible `type`s. 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 or vector of 1-characters or integers for plotting characters, see `points`. 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.
`cex` | vector of character expansion sizes, used cyclically.
`xlab, ylab` | titles for x and y axes, as in `plot`.
`xlim, ylim` | ranges of x and y axes, as in `plot`.
`...` | Graphical parameters (see `par`) and any further arguments of `plot`, typically `plot.default`, may also be supplied as arguments to this function. Hence, 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.)

The first element of `col, cex, lty, lwd` is used to plot the axes as well as the first line.

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.

### References

Becker, R. A., Chambers, J. M. and Wilks, A. R. (1988) The New S Language. Wadsworth & Brooks/Cole.

### See Also

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

### Examples

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

    x <- 0:50/50
    matplot(x, outer(x, 1:8, function(x, k) sin(k*pi * x)),
            ylim = c(-2,2), type = "plobcsSh",
            main= "matplot(,type = \"plobcsSh\" )")
    ## pch & type =  vector of 1-chars :
    matplot(x, outer(x, 1:4, function(x, k) sin(k*pi * x)),
            pch = letters[1:4], type = c("b","p","o"))

    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]