Getting Started

Graph Components

MATLAB displays graphs in a special window known as a figure. To create a graph, you need to define a coordinate system. Therefore every graph is placed within axes, which are contained by the figure.

The actual visual representation of the data is achieved with graphics objects like lines and surfaces. These objects are drawn within the coordinate system defined by the axes, which MATLAB automatically creates specifically to accommodate the range of the data. The actual data is stored as properties of the graphics objects.

See Handle Graphics for more information about graphics object properties.

The following picture shows the basic components of a typical graph.

Overview of MATLAB Plotting

Figure Tools

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