polarticks.m

Adjusts circumference ticks on polar plots

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For matlab versions prior to 2016, you cannot adjust the tick intervals on polar plots but the current polar.m code has hard-coded intervals of 30deg. polarticks.m allows the user to adjust those intervals on previously established polar plots.

text_handles = polarticks (spokes, keep_lines, handle)
Where 'spokes' is the number of equally spaced ticks starting from 0deg (ie, 8 would create intervals of 45 deg, 10=36deg, 4=90deg etc) Must be an even integer.
'keep_lines' is a vector of line handles already plotted on the polar plot ([] if adjustments are done before plotting).

'handle' (optional) is the handle of the polar plot you are adjusting. ('gca' if not included).

The output 'text_handles' is a vector of handles of all ticklabels
Please contact me if any issues arise.

For more recent versions of matlab, use built-in functions polarplot() and thetaticks().
see: https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_plots/polar-axes-grid-lines-and-labels.html

Cite As

Adam Danz (2026). polarticks.m (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/46087-polarticks-m), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

General Information

MATLAB Release Compatibility

  • Compatible with any release

Platform Compatibility

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
Version Published Release Notes Action
1.7.0.0

Updated description.
Clearer description for inputs and outputs. No changes to code.

1.6.0.0

Improved the example in the help section.

1.5.0.0

A 'hold on' was missing at line 91 causing an overwrite on the plot.

1.4.0.0

Adjusted text placement of circumferential tick marks.

1.3.0.0

Adjusted text placement of circumferential tick marks.

1.2.0.0

Circumferential references added.

1.1.0.0

'Spokes' input must be an even integer (ie, this code does not allow for an odd number of ticks.

1.0.0.0