clf

Clear figure

Syntax

clf

clf(fig)

clf('reset')

clf(fig,'reset')

f = clf(___)

Description

clf deletes all children of the current figure that have visible handles.

clf(fig) deletes all children of the specified figure that have visible handles.

clf('reset') deletes all children of the current figure regardless of their handle visibility. It also resets the figure properties to their default values, except for some figure properties unaffected by reset. Alternatively, you can reset the figure using the clf reset command without parentheses.

clf(fig,'reset') deletes all children of the specified figure and resets its properties.

f = clf(___) returns the figure for any of the previous syntaxes.

Examples

Clear Current Figure

Create a line plot. Then, set the background color of the current figure.

x = linspace(0,2*pi);
y = sin(x);
plot(x,y)

f = gcf;
f.Color = [0 0.5 0.5];

Clear the figure using a call to clf. The function call deletes the plot. However, it does not affect the background color of the figure.

clf

Now, reset the figure properties and return the children of the figure. clf('reset') resets the background color to its default value.

f = clf('reset');
f.Children

ans = 
  0×0 empty GraphicsPlaceholder array.

Clear Specified Figure

Create two figures, each with a line plot. Set the background color of the first figure.

f1 = figure('Color','b');
plot(1:10)

f2 = figure;
plot((1:10).^2)

Clear the line plot from the first figure without resetting the background color of the figure.

clf(f1)

Now, reset all properties of the first figure.

clf(f1,'reset')

Clear Figure and Reset Figure Properties

Create a figure with a white background. Then, create a surface plot.

figure('Color','w')
peaks

 
z =  3*(1-x).^2.*exp(-(x.^2) - (y+1).^2) ... 
   - 10*(x/5 - x.^3 - y.^5).*exp(-x.^2-y.^2) ... 
   - 1/3*exp(-(x+1).^2 - y.^2) 
 

Clear the surface plot from the figure and reset all figure properties to their default values. clf reset resets all properties of the current figure, except for the Position, Units, PaperPosition, and PaperUnits properties.

clf reset

Input Arguments

fig — Target figure

Figure object | figure number | array of Figure objects or numbers

Target figure, specified as a Figure object, a figure number, or an array of Figure objects or numbers.

If fig contains a figure number, MATLAB^® searches for an existing figure that has its Number property set to that number. By default, the Number property is displayed in the title of the figure.

Example: clf(f) clears Figure object f.

Example: clf(1) clears figure number 1.

Example: clf([1 f]) clears figure number 1 and Figure object f.

More About

Visible Handles

A handle is visible to clf if the HandleVisibility property of the object is set to 'on'. When you call clf in the Command Window or within a callback routine, the function deletes only those objects whose HandleVisibility property is set to 'on'. It does not delete objects whose HandleVisibility property is set to 'callback' or 'off'.

Figure Properties Unaffected by Reset

When clf resets the properties of a figure, some properties are not reset. These properties include:

• Properties that do not have a default value, such as Number

• Properties that have a value that depends on user interaction, such as CurrentObject and SelectionType

• Properties that control the figure size, such as Position and Units

• Properties that control the figure window behavior and tools, such as WindowStyle, MenuBar, and ToolBar

Tips

• To clear the contents of a figure, you can alternatively use Clear Figure from the figure window's Edit menu. Using Clear Figure deletes all children of the figure that have visible handles.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

R2024b: Figure menu bar and toolbar are unaffected by reset

When you call clf('reset') to reset figure properties, the MenuBar and ToolBar properties are unaffected.

R2024a: Clear multiple figures at once

Clear multiple figures at once by specifying the fig argument as an array of Figure objects or figure numbers.