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Polar Properties

Control appearance and behavior of polar plot

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Polar properties control the appearance and behavior of the polar plot function object. By changing property values, you can modify certain aspects of the polar plot. To change the default properties use:

p = polar(____,Name=Value)

To view all the properties of the polar plot function object use:

details(p)

Angle Properties

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Angle at the top of the polar plot, specified as a scalar in degrees.

Data Types: double

Visible polar angle span, specified as a 1-by-2 vector of real values.

Data Types: double

Show interactive angle limit cursors, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Direction of increasing angle, specified as either 'ccw' (counterclockwise) or 'cw' (clockwise).

Data Types: char

Number of degrees between radial lines depicting angles in the polar plot, specified as a scalar in degrees.

Data Types: double

Rotate angle tick labels, specified as either a 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Show angle tick labels, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Format for angle tick labels, specified as either 360 or 180 degrees.

Data Types: double

Scale factor of angle tick font, specified as a numeric value greater than zero.

Data Types: double

Show angle span measurement, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Highlight radial line at zero degrees, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Show gaps in line plots with nonuniform angle spacing, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Magnitude Properties

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Angle of magnitude tick label radial line, specified as a real scalar in degrees.

Data Types: double

Magnitude ticks, specified as a 1-by-N vector, where N is the number of magnitude ticks.

Data Types: double

Show magnitude tick labels, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Minimum and maximum magnitude limits, specified as a two-element vector of real values.

Data Types: double

Determine magnitude dynamic range, specified as either 'auto' or 'manual'.

Data Types: char

Determine angle for magnitude tick labels, specified as either 'auto' or 'manual'.

Data Types: char

Determine magnitude tick locations, specified as either 'auto' or 'manual'.

Data Types: char

Magnitude units, specified as either 'db' or 'dBLoss'.

Data Types: char

Scale factor of magnitude tick font, specified as a numeric value greater than zero.

Data Types: double

Miscellaneous Properties

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Normalize each data trace to maximum value, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Connect first and last angles, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Style of polar plot display, specified as either 'line' or 'filled'.

Data Types: char

Create a temporary cursor, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Show tool tips when you hover over a polar plot element, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Clip data to outer circle, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Directive on how to add next plot, specified as one of the values in the table:

Property ValueEffect
'replace'

Removes all axes objects and resets figure properties to their defaults before adding new graphics objects.

'replacechildren'Removes all prior plot but preserves all axes settings.
'add'

Adds new graphics objects without clearing or resetting the current figure.

Legend and Title Properties

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Data tables for legend annotation, specified as a character vector or cell array of character vectors. Ⓐ denotes the active line for interactive operation.

Data Types: char

Show legend label, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Title to display above the polar plot, specified as a character vector.

Data Types: char

Title to display below the polar plot, specified as a character vector.

Data Types: char

Offset between top title and angle ticks, specified as a scalar. The value must be in the range [-0.5,0.5].

Data Types: double

Offset between bottom title and angle ticks, specified as a scalar. The value must be in the range [-0.5,0.5].

Data Types: double

Scale factor of top title font, specified as a numeric value greater than zero.

Data Types: double

Scale factor of bottom title font, specified as a numeric value greater than zero.

Data Types: double

Thickness of top title font, specified as either 'bold' or 'normal.

Data Types: char

Thickness of bottom title font, specified as either 'bold' or 'normal.

Data Types: char

Interpretation of top title characters, specified as one of the following:

  • 'tex' — Interpret using a subset of TeX markup

  • 'latex' — Interpret using LaTeX markup

  • 'none' — Display literal characters

TeX Markup

By default, MATLAB® supports a subset of TeX markup. Use TeX markup to add superscripts and subscripts, modify the text type and color, and include special characters in the text.

This table lists the supported modifiers when the TickLabelInterpreter property is set to 'tex', which is the default value. Modifiers remain in effect until the end of the text, except for superscripts and subscripts which only modify the next character or the text within the curly braces {}.

ModifierDescriptionExample
^{ }Superscript'text^{superscript}'
_{ }Subscript'text_{subscript}'
\bfBold font'\bf text'
\itItalic font'\it text'
\slOblique font (rarely available)'\sl text'
\rmNormal font'\rm text'
\fontname{specifier}Set specifier as the name of a font family to change the font style. You can use this with other modifiers.'\fontname{Courier} text'
\fontsize{specifier}Set specifier as a scalar numeric value to change the font size.'\fontsize{15} text'
\color{specifier}Set specifer as one of these colors: red, green, yellow, magenta, blue, black, white, gray, darkGreen, orange, or lightBlue.'\color{magenta} text'
\color[rgb]{specifier}Set specifier as a three-element RGB triplet to change the font color.'\color[rgb]{0,0.5,0.5} text'

LaTeX Markup

To use LaTeX markup, set the TickLabelInterpreter property to 'latex'. The displayed text uses the default LaTeX font style. The FontName, FontWeight, and FontAngle properties do not have an effect. To change the font style, use LaTeX markup within the text.

The maximum size of the text that you can use with the LaTeX interpreter is 1200 characters. For multiline text, the maximum size reduces by about 10 characters per line.

Data Types: char

Interpretation of bottom title characters, specified as one of the following:

  • 'tex' — Interpret using a subset of TeX markup

  • 'latex' — Interpret using LaTeX markup

  • 'none' — Display literal characters

TeX Markup

By default, MATLAB supports a subset of TeX markup. Use TeX markup to add superscripts and subscripts, modify the text type and color, and include special characters in the text.

This table lists the supported modifiers when the TickLabelInterpreter property is set to 'tex', which is the default value. Modifiers remain in effect until the end of the text, except for superscripts and subscripts which only modify the next character or the text within the curly braces {}.

ModifierDescriptionExample
^{ }Superscript'text^{superscript}'
_{ }Subscript'text_{subscript}'
\bfBold font'\bf text'
\itItalic font'\it text'
\slOblique font (rarely available)'\sl text'
\rmNormal font'\rm text'
\fontname{specifier}Set specifier as the name of a font family to change the font style. You can use this with other modifiers.'\fontname{Courier} text'
\fontsize{specifier}Set specifier as a scalar numeric value to change the font size.'\fontsize{15} text'
\color{specifier}Set specifer as one of these colors: red, green, yellow, magenta, blue, black, white, gray, darkGreen, orange, or lightBlue.'\color{magenta} text'
\color[rgb]{specifier}Set specifier as a three-element RGB triplet to change the font color.'\color[rgb]{0,0.5,0.5} text'

LaTeX Markup

To use LaTeX markup, set the TickLabelInterpreter property to 'latex'. The displayed text uses the default LaTeX font style. The FontName, FontWeight, and FontAngle properties do not have an effect. To change the font style, use LaTeX markup within the text.

The maximum size of the text that you can use with the LaTeX interpreter is 1200 characters. For multiline text, the maximum size reduces by about 10 characters per line.

Data Types: char

Grid Properties

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Draw grid over data plots, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Draw radial lines within innermost circle of the polar plot, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Increase angle resolution in the polar plot, specified as either a 0 or 1. This property increases angle resolution by doubling the number of radial lines outside each magnitude.

Data Types: logical

Width of grid lines, specified as a positive scalar.

Data Types: double

Show grid lines, including magnitude circles and angle radii, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

Color of foreground grid lines, specified as an RGB triplet, character vector of color names, or 'none'.

RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes are useful for specifying custom colors.

  • An RGB triplet is a three-element row vector whose elements specify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of the color. The intensities must be in the range [0,1]; for example, [0.4 0.6 0.7].

  • A hexadecimal color code is a character vector or a string scalar that starts with a hash symbol (#) followed by three or six hexadecimal digits, which can range from 0 to F. The values are not case sensitive. Thus, the color codes "#FF8800", "#ff8800", "#F80", and "#f80" are equivalent.

Alternatively, you can specify some common colors by name. This table lists the named color options, the equivalent RGB triplets, and hexadecimal color codes.

Color NameShort NameRGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
"red""r"[1 0 0]"#FF0000"

Sample of the color red

"green""g"[0 1 0]"#00FF00"

Sample of the color green

"blue""b"[0 0 1]"#0000FF"

Sample of the color blue

"cyan" "c"[0 1 1]"#00FFFF"

Sample of the color cyan

"magenta""m"[1 0 1]"#FF00FF"

Sample of the color magenta

"yellow""y"[1 1 0]"#FFFF00"

Sample of the color yellow

"black""k"[0 0 0]"#000000"

Sample of the color black

"white""w"[1 1 1]"#FFFFFF"

Sample of the color white

Here are the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for the default colors MATLAB uses in many types of plots.

RGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
[0 0.4470 0.7410]"#0072BD"

Sample of RGB triplet [0 0.4470 0.7410], which appears as dark blue

[0.8500 0.3250 0.0980]"#D95319"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.8500 0.3250 0.0980], which appears as dark orange

[0.9290 0.6940 0.1250]"#EDB120"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.9290 0.6940 0.1250], which appears as dark yellow

[0.4940 0.1840 0.5560]"#7E2F8E"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4940 0.1840 0.5560], which appears as dark purple

[0.4660 0.6740 0.1880]"#77AC30"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4660 0.6740 0.1880], which appears as medium green

[0.3010 0.7450 0.9330]"#4DBEEE"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.3010 0.7450 0.9330], which appears as light blue

[0.6350 0.0780 0.1840]"#A2142F"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.6350 0.0780 0.1840], which appears as dark red

Data Types: double | char

Color of background grid lines, specified as an RGB triplet, character vector of color names, or 'none'.

RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes are useful for specifying custom colors.

  • An RGB triplet is a three-element row vector whose elements specify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of the color. The intensities must be in the range [0,1]; for example, [0.4 0.6 0.7].

  • A hexadecimal color code is a character vector or a string scalar that starts with a hash symbol (#) followed by three or six hexadecimal digits, which can range from 0 to F. The values are not case sensitive. Thus, the color codes "#FF8800", "#ff8800", "#F80", and "#f80" are equivalent.

Alternatively, you can specify some common colors by name. This table lists the named color options, the equivalent RGB triplets, and hexadecimal color codes.

Color NameShort NameRGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
"red""r"[1 0 0]"#FF0000"

Sample of the color red

"green""g"[0 1 0]"#00FF00"

Sample of the color green

"blue""b"[0 0 1]"#0000FF"

Sample of the color blue

"cyan" "c"[0 1 1]"#00FFFF"

Sample of the color cyan

"magenta""m"[1 0 1]"#FF00FF"

Sample of the color magenta

"yellow""y"[1 1 0]"#FFFF00"

Sample of the color yellow

"black""k"[0 0 0]"#000000"

Sample of the color black

"white""w"[1 1 1]"#FFFFFF"

Sample of the color white

Here are the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for the default colors MATLAB uses in many types of plots.

RGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
[0 0.4470 0.7410]"#0072BD"

Sample of RGB triplet [0 0.4470 0.7410], which appears as dark blue

[0.8500 0.3250 0.0980]"#D95319"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.8500 0.3250 0.0980], which appears as dark orange

[0.9290 0.6940 0.1250]"#EDB120"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.9290 0.6940 0.1250], which appears as dark yellow

[0.4940 0.1840 0.5560]"#7E2F8E"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4940 0.1840 0.5560], which appears as dark purple

[0.4660 0.6740 0.1880]"#77AC30"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4660 0.6740 0.1880], which appears as medium green

[0.3010 0.7450 0.9330]"#4DBEEE"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.3010 0.7450 0.9330], which appears as light blue

[0.6350 0.0780 0.1840]"#A2142F"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.6350 0.0780 0.1840], which appears as dark red

Data Types: double | char

Marker, Color, Line, and Font Properties

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Marker symbol, specified as either 'none' or one of the symbols in this table. By default, a line does not have markers. Add markers at selected points along the line by specifying a marker.

MarkerDescriptionResulting Marker
"o"Circle

Sample of circle marker

"+"Plus sign

Sample of plus sign marker

"*"Asterisk

Sample of asterisk marker

"."Point

Sample of point marker

"x"Cross

Sample of cross marker

"_"Horizontal line

Sample of horizontal line marker

"|"Vertical line

Sample of vertical line marker

"square"Square

Sample of square marker

"diamond"Diamond

Sample of diamond marker

"^"Upward-pointing triangle

Sample of upward-pointing triangle marker

"v"Downward-pointing triangle

Sample of downward-pointing triangle marker

">"Right-pointing triangle

Sample of right-pointing triangle marker

"<"Left-pointing triangle

Sample of left-pointing triangle marker

"pentagram"Pentagram

Sample of pentagram marker

"hexagram"Hexagram

Sample of hexagram marker

"none"No markersNot applicable

Marker size, specified as a positive value in point units.

Data Types: double

Colors to use for multiline plots, specified as a three-column matrix of RGB triplets. Each row of the matrix defines one color in the color order.

Data Types: double

Next color to use in color order, specified as a positive integer. New plots added to the axes use colors based on the current value of the color order index.

Data Types: double

Color of data lines, specified as a character vector of color names or RGB triplet vector.

RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes are useful for specifying custom colors.

  • An RGB triplet is a three-element row vector whose elements specify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of the color. The intensities must be in the range [0,1]; for example, [0.4 0.6 0.7].

  • A hexadecimal color code is a character vector or a string scalar that starts with a hash symbol (#) followed by three or six hexadecimal digits, which can range from 0 to F. The values are not case sensitive. Thus, the color codes "#FF8800", "#ff8800", "#F80", and "#f80" are equivalent.

Alternatively, you can specify some common colors by name. This table lists the named color options, the equivalent RGB triplets, and hexadecimal color codes.

Color NameShort NameRGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
"red""r"[1 0 0]"#FF0000"

Sample of the color red

"green""g"[0 1 0]"#00FF00"

Sample of the color green

"blue""b"[0 0 1]"#0000FF"

Sample of the color blue

"cyan" "c"[0 1 1]"#00FFFF"

Sample of the color cyan

"magenta""m"[1 0 1]"#FF00FF"

Sample of the color magenta

"yellow""y"[1 1 0]"#FFFF00"

Sample of the color yellow

"black""k"[0 0 0]"#000000"

Sample of the color black

"white""w"[1 1 1]"#FFFFFF"

Sample of the color white

Here are the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for the default colors MATLAB uses in many types of plots.

RGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
[0 0.4470 0.7410]"#0072BD"

Sample of RGB triplet [0 0.4470 0.7410], which appears as dark blue

[0.8500 0.3250 0.0980]"#D95319"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.8500 0.3250 0.0980], which appears as dark orange

[0.9290 0.6940 0.1250]"#EDB120"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.9290 0.6940 0.1250], which appears as dark yellow

[0.4940 0.1840 0.5560]"#7E2F8E"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4940 0.1840 0.5560], which appears as dark purple

[0.4660 0.6740 0.1880]"#77AC30"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4660 0.6740 0.1880], which appears as medium green

[0.3010 0.7450 0.9330]"#4DBEEE"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.3010 0.7450 0.9330], which appears as light blue

[0.6350 0.0780 0.1840]"#A2142F"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.6350 0.0780 0.1840], which appears as dark red

Data Types: double | char

Line style of the plot, specified as one of the symbols in the table:

SymbolLine StyleResulting Line
'-'Solid line

Sample of solid line

'--'Dashed line

Sample of dashed line

':'Dotted line

Sample of dotted line

'-.'Dash-dotted line

Sample of dash-dotted line

'none'No lineNo line

Line width of the plot, specified as a positive scalar or vector.

Font size of text in the plot, specified as a positive scalar.

Set font size, specified as either 'auto' or 'manual'.

Data Types: char