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=========================
Documentation style guide
=========================
This guide contains best practices for the language and formatting of Matplotlib
documentation.
.. seealso::
For more information about contributing, see the :ref:`documenting-matplotlib`
section.
Expository language
===================
For explanatory writing, the following guidelines are for clear and concise
language use.
Terminology
-----------
There are several key terms in Matplotlib that are standards for
reliability and consistency in documentation. They are not interchangeable.
.. table::
:widths: 15, 15, 35, 35
+------------------+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+
| Term | Description | Correct | Incorrect |
+==================+==========================+==============+==============+
| |Figure| | Matplotlib working space | - *For | - "The figure|
| | for programming. | Matplotlib | is the |
| | | objects*: | working |
| | | Figure, | space for |
| | | "The Figure| visuals." |
| | | is the | - "Methods in|
| | | working | the figure |
| | | space for | provide the|
| | | the visual.| visuals." |
| | | - *Referring | - "The |
| | | to class*: | |Figure| |
| | | |Figure|, | Four |
| | | "Methods | leglock is |
| | | within the | a wrestling|
| | | |Figure| | move." |
| | | provide the| |
| | | visuals." | |
| | | - *General | |
| | | language*: | |
| | | figure, | |
| | | "Michelle | |
| | | Kwan is a | |
| | | famous | |
| | | figure | |
| | | skater." | |
+------------------+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+
| |Axes| | Subplots within Figure. | - *For | - "The axes |
| | Contains plot elements | Matplotlib | methods |
| | and is responsible for | objects*: | transform |
| | plotting and configuring | Axes, "An | the data." |
| | additional details. | Axes is a | - "Each |
| | | subplot | |Axes| is |
| | | within the | specific to|
| | | Figure." | a Figure." |
| | | - *Referring | - "The |
| | | to class*: | musicians |
| | | |Axes|, | on stage |
| | | "Each | call their |
| | | |Axes| is | guitars |
| | | specific to| Axes." |
| | | one | - "The point |
| | | Figure." | where the |
| | | - *General | Axes meet |
| | | language*: | is the |
| | | axes, "Both| origin of |
| | | loggers and| the |
| | | lumberjacks| coordinate |
| | | use axes to| system." |
| | | chop wood."| |
| | | OR "There | |
| | | are no | |
| | | standard | |
| | | names for | |
| | | the | |
| | | coordinates| |
| | | in the | |
| | | three | |
| | | axes." | |
| | | (Plural of | |
| | | axis) | |
+------------------+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+
| |Artist| | Broad variety of | - *For | - "Configure |
| | Matplotlib objects that | Matplotlib | the legend |
| | display visuals. | objects*: | artist with|
| | | Artist, | its |
| | | "Artists | respective |
| | | display | method." |
| | | visuals and| - "There is |
| | | are the | an |
| | | visible | |Artist| |
| | | elements | for that |
| | | when | visual in |
| | | rendering a| the graph."|
| | | Figure." | - "Some |
| | | - *Referring | Artists |
| | | to class*: | became |
| | | |Artist| , | famous only|
| | | "Each | by |
| | | |Artist| | accident." |
| | | has | |
| | | respective | |
| | | methods and| |
| | | functions."| |
| | | - *General | |
| | | language*: | |
| | | artist, | |
| | | "The | |
| | | artist in | |
| | | the museum | |
| | | is from | |
| | | France." | |
+------------------+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+
| |Axis| | Human-readable single | - *For | - "Plot the |
| | dimensional object | Matplotlib | graph onto |
| | of reference marks | objects*: | the axis." |
| | containing ticks, tick | Axis, "The | - "Each Axis |
| | labels, spines, and | Axis for | is usually |
| | edges. | the bar | named after|
| | | chart is a | the |
| | | separate | coordinate |
| | | Artist." | which is |
| | | (plural, | measured |
| | | Axis | along it." |
| | | objects) | - "In some |
| | | - *Referring | computer |
| | | to class*: | graphics |
| | | |Axis|, | contexts, |
| | | "The | the |
| | | |Axis| | ordinate |
| | | contains | |Axis| may |
| | | respective | be oriented|
| | | XAxis and | downwards."|
| | | YAxis | |
| | | objects." | |
| | | - *General | |
| | | language*: | |
| | | axis, | |
| | | "Rotation | |
| | | around a | |
| | | fixed axis | |
| | | is a | |
| | | special | |
| | | case of | |
| | | rotational | |
| | | motion." | |
+------------------+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+
| Explicit, | Explicit approach of | - Explicit | - object |
| Object Oriented | programming in | - explicit | oriented |
| Programming (OOP)| Matplotlib. | - OOP | - OO-style |
+------------------+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+
| Implicit, | Implicit approach of | - Implicit | - MATLAB like|
| ``pyplot`` | programming in Matplotlib| - implicit | - Pyplot |
| | with ``pyplot`` module. | - ``pyplot`` | - pyplot |
| | | | interface |
+------------------+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+
.. |Figure| replace:: :class:`~matplotlib.figure.Figure`
.. |Axes| replace:: :class:`~matplotlib.axes.Axes`
.. |Artist| replace:: :class:`~matplotlib.artist.Artist`
.. |Axis| replace:: :class:`~matplotlib.axis.Axis`
Grammar
-------
Subject
^^^^^^^
Use second-person imperative sentences for directed instructions specifying an
action. Second-person pronouns are for individual-specific contexts and
possessive reference.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+====================================+====================================+
| Install Matplotlib from the source | You can install Matplotlib from the|
| directory using the Python ``pip`` | source directory. You can find |
| installer program. Depending on | additional support if you are |
| your operating system, you may need| having trouble with your |
| additional support. | installation. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
Tense
^^^^^
Use present simple tense for explanations. Avoid future tense and other modal
or auxiliary verbs when possible.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+====================================+====================================+
| The fundamental ideas behind | Matplotlib will take data and |
| Matplotlib for visualization | transform it through functions and |
| involve taking data and | methods. They can generate many |
| transforming it through functions | kinds of visuals. These will be the|
| and methods. | fundamentals for using Matplotlib. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
Voice
^^^^^
Write in active sentences. Passive voice is best for situations or conditions
related to warning prompts.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+====================================+====================================+
| The function ``plot`` generates the| The graph is generated by the |
| graph. | ``plot`` function. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| An error message is returned by the| You will see an error message from |
| function if there are no arguments.| the function if there are no |
| | arguments. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
Sentence structure
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Write with short sentences using Subject-Verb-Object order regularly. Limit
coordinating conjunctions in sentences. Avoid pronoun references and
subordinating conjunctive phrases.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+====================================+====================================+
| The ``pyplot`` module in Matplotlib| The ``pyplot`` module in Matplotlib|
| is a collection of functions. These| is a collection of functions which |
| functions create, manage, and | create, manage, and manipulate the |
| manipulate the current Figure and | current Figure and plotting area. |
| plotting area. | |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| The ``plot`` function plots data | The ``plot`` function plots data |
| to the respective Axes. The Axes | within its respective Axes for its |
| corresponds to the respective | respective Figure. |
| Figure. | |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| The implicit approach is a | Users that wish to have convenient |
| convenient shortcut for | shortcuts for generating plots use |
| generating simple plots. | the implicit approach. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
Formatting
==========
The following guidelines specify how to incorporate code and use appropriate
formatting for Matplotlib documentation.
Code
----
Matplotlib is a Python library and follows the same standards for
documentation.
Comments
^^^^^^^^
Examples of Python code have comments before or on the same line.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+---------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+=======================================+=================================+
| :: | :: |
| | |
| # Data | years = [2006, 2007, 2008] |
| years = [2006, 2007, 2008] | # Data |
+---------------------------------------+ |
| :: | |
| | |
| years = [2006, 2007, 2008] # Data | |
+---------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
Outputs
^^^^^^^
When generating visuals with Matplotlib using ``.py`` files in examples,
display the visual with `matplotlib.pyplot.show` to display the visual.
Keep the documentation clear of Python output lines.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+====================================+====================================+
| :: | :: |
| | |
| plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3]) | plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3]) |
| plt.show() | |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| :: | :: |
| | |
| fig, ax = plt.subplots() | fig, ax = plt.subplots() |
| ax.plot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3]) | ax.plot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3]) |
| fig.show() | |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
reStructuredText
----------------
Matplotlib uses reStructuredText Markup for documentation. Sphinx helps to
transform these documents into appropriate formats for accessibility and
visibility.
- `reStructuredText Specifications <https://docutils.sourceforge.io/docs/ref/rst/restructuredtext.html>`_
- `Quick Reference Document <https://docutils.sourceforge.io/docs/user/rst/quickref.html>`_
Lists
^^^^^
Bulleted lists are for items that do not require sequencing. Numbered lists are
exclusively for performing actions in a determined order.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+====================================+====================================+
| The example uses three graphs. | The example uses three graphs. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| - Bar | 1. Bar |
| - Line | 2. Line |
| - Pie | 3. Pie |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| These four steps help to get | The following steps are important |
| started using Matplotlib. | to get started using Matplotlib. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| 1. Import the Matplotlib library. | - Import the Matplotlib library. |
| 2. Import the necessary modules. | - Import the necessary modules. |
| 3. Set and assign data to work on.| - Set and assign data to work on. |
| 4. Transform data with methods and| - Transform data with methods and |
| functions. | functions. |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
Tables
^^^^^^
Use ASCII tables with reStructuredText standards in organizing content.
Markdown tables and the csv-table directive are not accepted.
.. table::
:width: 100%
:widths: 50, 50
+--------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Correct | Incorrect |
+================================+========================================+
| +----------+----------+ | :: |
| | Correct | Incorrect| | |
| +==========+==========+ | | Correct | Incorrect | |
| | OK | Not OK | | | ------- | --------- | |
| +----------+----------+ | | OK | Not OK | |
| | |
+--------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| :: | :: |
| | |
| +----------+----------+ | .. csv-table:: |
| | Correct | Incorrect| | :header: "correct", "incorrect" |
| +==========+==========+ | :widths: 10, 10 |
| | OK | Not OK | | |
| +----------+----------+ | "OK ", "Not OK" |
| | |
+--------------------------------+ |
| :: | |
| | |
| =========== =========== | |
| Correct Incorrect | |
| =========== =========== | |
| OK Not OK | |
| =========== =========== | |
| | |
+--------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
Additional resources
====================
This style guide is not a comprehensive standard. For a more thorough
reference of how to contribute to documentation, see the links below. These
resources contain common best practices for writing documentation.
* `Python Developer's Guide <https://devguide.python.org/documenting/#documenting-python>`_
* `Google Developer Style Guide <https://developers.google.com/style>`_
* `IBM Style Guide <https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/the-ibm-style/9780132118989/>`_
* `Red Hat Style Guide <https://stylepedia.net/style/#grammar>`_