pcolor
Render a 2D scalar field as a pseudocolor plot. Functionally similar to
pcolormesh but slower; prefer pcolormesh unless you specifically need
pcolor semantics.
Matplotlib: Axes.pcolor.
The x/y/z coordinates are forwarded to Matplotlib as a regular grid.
Axes: rectangular (ax).
Coordinates
| Key | Required | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
x |
yes | Grid x edges/centers |
y |
yes | Grid y edges/centers |
z |
yes | Scalar value per cell |
Style
| Key | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
cmap |
string | Colormap |
vmin / vmax |
float | Color scale limits |
edgecolors |
color | Cell edge color |
alpha |
0–1 | Opacity |
Any other Axes.pcolor keyword is also accepted.
Notes
- For density and profile maps,
pcolormeshis the recommended renderer — it is faster and includes built-in gridding for scattered input. Reach forpcoloronly when you already have a regular grid and need its exact behavior.
See also: Plot Methods index · pcolormesh