MATLAB Function Reference

scatter - Scatter plot

GUI Alternatives

To graph selected variables, use the Plot Selector in the Workspace Browser, or use the Figure Palette Plot Catalog. Manipulate graphs in plot edit mode with the Property Editor. For details, see Plotting Tools — Interactive Plotting in the MATLAB^® Graphics documentation and Creating Graphics from the Workspace Browser in the MATLAB Desktop Tools documentation.

Syntax

scatter(X,Y,S,C) scatter(X,Y) scatter(X,Y,S) scatter(...,markertype) scatter(...,'filled') scatter(...,'PropertyName',propertyvalue) scatter(axes_handles,...) h = scatter(...) hpatch = scatter('v6',...)

Description

scatter(X,Y,S,C) displays colored circles at the locations specified by the vectors X and Y (which must be the same size).

S determines the area of each marker (specified in points^2). S can be a vector the same length as X and Y or a scalar. If S is a scalar, MATLAB draws all the markers the same size. If S is empty, the default size is used.

C determines the color of each marker. When C is a vector the same length as X and Y, the values in C are linearly mapped to the colors in the current colormap. When C is a length(X)-by-3 matrix, it specifies the colors of the markers as RGB values. C can also be a color string (see ColorSpec for a list of color string specifiers).

scatter(X,Y) draws the markers in the default size and color.

scatter(X,Y,S) draws the markers at the specified sizes (S) with a single color. This type of graph is also known as a bubble plot.

scatter(...,markertype) uses the marker type specified instead of 'o' (see LineSpec for a list of marker specifiers).

scatter(...,'filled') fills the markers.

scatter(...,'PropertyName',propertyvalue) creates the scatter graph, applying the specified property settings. See scattergroup properties for a description of properties.

scatter(axes_handles,...) plots into the axes object with handle axes_handle instead of the current axes object (gca).

h = scatter(...) returns the handle of the scattergroup object created.

Backward-Compatible Version

hpatch = scatter('v6',...) returns the handles to the patch objects created by scatter (see Patch Properties for a list of properties you can specify using the object handles and set).

Note The v6 option enables users of Version 7.x of MATLAB to create FIG-files that previous versions can open. It is obsolete and will be removed in a future version of MATLAB.

See Plot Objects and Backward Compatibility for more information.

Example

load seamount
scatter(x,y,5,z)