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hold

Retain current plot when adding new plots

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Syntax

hold on
hold off
hold
hold(state)
hold(ax,___)

Description

hold on sets the axes hold state to on, which retains plots in the current axes so that new plots added to the axes do not delete existing plots. When the hold state is on, new plots use the next colors and line styles based on the ColorOrder and LineStyleOrder properties of the axes. MATLAB® adjusts axes limits, tick marks, and tick labels to display the full range of data. If an axes object does not exist, then the hold command creates one.

example

hold off sets the axes hold state to off so that new plots added to the axes clear existing plots and reset all axes properties. When the hold state is off, the next plot added to the axes uses the first color and line style based on the ColorOrder and LineStyleOrder properties of the axes. This option is the default behavior.

example

hold toggles the hold state between on and off.

hold(state) sets the axes hold state by specifying a state value. You can specify state as "on", "off", a logical value, or an OnOffSwitchState value.

hold(ax,___) sets the hold state for the axes specified by ax instead of the current axes. Specify ax before all other arguments.

example

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create a line plot. Use hold on to add a second line plot without deleting the existing line plot. The new plot uses the next color and line style based on the ColorOrder and LineStyleOrder properties of the axes. Then reset the hold state to off.

x = linspace(-pi,pi);
y1 = sin(x);
plot(x,y1)

hold on
y2 = cos(x);
plot(x,y2)
hold off

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object contains 2 objects of type line.

When the hold state is off, new plots delete existing plots. New plots start from the beginning of the color order and line style order.

y3 = sin(2*x);
plot(x,y3)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object contains an object of type line.

Open Live Script

You can display a tiling of plots using the tiledlayout and nexttile functions. Call the tiledlayout function to create a 2-by-1 tiled chart layout. Call the nexttile function to create the axes objects ax1 and ax2. Plot a sine wave plot in each axes.

x = linspace(0,10);
y1 = sin(x);
y2 = cos(x);
tiledlayout(2,1)

% Top plot
ax1 = nexttile;
plot(ax1,x,y1)

% Bottom plot
ax2 = nexttile;
plot(ax2,x,y2)

Figure contains 2 axes objects. Axes object 1 contains an object of type line. Axes object 2 contains an object of type line.

Add a second sine wave to the top axes.

hold(ax1,'on')
y3 = sin(2*x);
plot(ax1,x,y3)
hold(ax1,'off')

Figure contains 2 axes objects. Axes object 1 contains 2 objects of type line. Axes object 2 contains an object of type line.

Open Live Script

Create a 1-by-2 tiled chart layout. Call the nexttile function to create two axes objects and plot into the axes. 

t = tiledlayout(1,2);
ax1 = nexttile;
ax2 = nexttile;
plot(ax1,[0 1 0 1])
scatter(ax2,rand(1,10),rand(1,10),'filled')

Figure contains 2 axes objects. Axes object 1 contains an object of type line. Axes object 2 contains an object of type scatter.

Set the hold state for both of the axes to 'on'. Then display additional data in each plot.

hold([ax1 ax2],'on')
plot(ax1,[.5 .2 .5 .2])
scatter(ax2,rand(1,10),rand(1,10),'filled')

Figure contains 2 axes objects. Axes object 1 contains 2 objects of type line. Axes object 2 contains 2 objects of type scatter.

Input Arguments

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Axes hold state, specified one of these values:

  • "on" or "off" — A value of "on" sets the hold state to on, and "off" sets the state to off. You can also specify the character vectors 'on' or 'off'.

  • Numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false) — A value of 1 or true sets the hold state to on, and 0 or false sets the state to off. (since R2024a)

  • A matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState value — A value of matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.on sets the hold state to on, and matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.off sets the state to off. (since R2024a)

Target axes, specified as one of the following:

  • Any type of axes object: an Axes, PolarAxes, or GeographicAxes object.

  • An array of axes objects that belong to the same class. To determine the class, use the class function.

If you do not specify the axes, then hold sets the hold state for the current axes.

Tips

  • Use the ishold function to test the hold state.

Algorithms

The hold function sets these properties:

  • NextPlot axes property - Sets this property of the associated Axes, PolarAxes, or GeographicAxes object to either 'add' or 'replace'.

  • NextPlot figure property - Sets this property of the Figure object to 'add'.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

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See Also

Functions

Properties

Classes

Topics