Polar Properties

Control appearance and behavior of polar plot

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

AngleAtTop — Angle at top of polar plot

90 (default) | scalar in degrees

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

Data Types: double

AngleLim — Visible polar angle span

[0 360] (default) | 1-by-2 vector of real values

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

Data Types: double

AngleLimVisible — Show interactive angle limit cursors

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

AngleDirection — Direction of increasing angle

'ccw' (default) | 'cw'

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

Data Types: char

AngleResolution — Number of degrees between radial lines

15 (default) | scalar in degrees

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

Data Types: double

AngleTickLabelRotation — Rotate angle tick labels

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

AngleTickLabelVisible — Show angle tick labels

1 (default) | 0

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

Data Types: logical

AngleTickLabelFormat — Format for angle tick labels

360 (default) | 180

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

Data Types: double

AngleFontSizeMultiplier — Scale factor of angle tick font

1 (default) | numeric value greater than zero

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

Data Types: double

Span — Show angle span measurement

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

ZeroAngleLine — Highlight radial line at zero degrees

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

DisconnectAngleGaps — Show gaps in line plots with nonuniform angle spacing

1 (default) | 0

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

Data Types: logical

Magnitude Properties

MagnitudeAxisAngle — Angle of magnitude tick label radial line

75 (default) | real scalar in degrees

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

Data Types: double

MagnitudeTick — Magnitude ticks

[0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8] (default) | 1-by-N vector

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

Data Types: double

MagnitudeTickLabelVisible — Show magnitude tick labels

1 (default) | 0

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

Data Types: logical

MagnitudeLim — Minimum and maximum magnitude limits

[0 1] (default) | two-element vector of real values

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

Data Types: double

MagnitudeLimMode — Determine magnitude dynamic range

'auto' (default) | 'manual'

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

Data Types: char

MagnitudeAxisAngleMode — Determine angle for magnitude tick labels

'auto' (default) | 'manual'

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

Data Types: char

MagnitudeTickMode — Determine magnitude tick locations

'auto' (default) | 'manual'

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

Data Types: char

MagnitudeUnits — Magnitude units

'dB' | 'dBLoss'

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

Data Types: char

MagnitudeFontSizeMultiplier — Scale factor of magnitude tick font

0.9000 (default) | numeric value greater than zero

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

Data Types: double

Miscellaneous Properties

NormalizeData — Normalize each data trace to maximum value

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

ConnectEndpoints — Connect first and last angles

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

Style — Style of polar plot display

'line' (default) | 'filled'

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

Data Types: char

TemporaryCursor — Create temporary cursor

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

ToolTips — Show tool tips

1 (default) | 0

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

Data Types: logical

ClipData — Clip data to outer circle

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

NextPlot — Directive on how to add next plot

'replace' (default) | 'replacechildren' | 'add'

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

Property Value	Effect
'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

LegendLabels — Data tables for legend annotation

character vector | cell array of character vectors

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

LegendVisible — Show legend label

0 (default) | 1

Show legend label, specified as either 0 or 1.

Data Types: logical

TitleTop — Title to display above the polar plot

character vector

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

Data Types: char

TitleBottom — Title to display below the polar plot

character vector

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

Data Types: char

TitleTopOffset — Offset between top title and angle ticks

0.1500 (default) | scalar

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

TitleBottomOffset — Offset between bottom title and angle ticks

0.1500 (default) | scalar

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

TitleTopFontSizeMultiplier — Scale factor of top title font

1.1000 (default) | numeric value greater than zero

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

Data Types: double

TitleBottomFontSizeMultiplier — Scale factor of bottom title font

0.9000 (default) | numeric value greater than zero

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

Data Types: double

TitleTopFontWeight — Thickness of top title font

'bold' (default) | 'normal'

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

Data Types: char

TitleBottomFontWeight — Thickness of bottom title font

'normal' (default) | 'bold'

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

Data Types: char

TitleTopTextInterpreter — Interpretation of top title characters

'none' (default) | 'tex' | 'latex'

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 {}.

Modifier	Description	Example
^{ }	Superscript	'text^{superscript}'
_{ }	Subscript	'text_{subscript}'
\bf	Bold font	'\bf text'
\it	Italic font	'\it text'
\sl	Oblique font (rarely available)	'\sl text'
\rm	Normal 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

TitleBottomTextInterpreter — Interpretation of bottom title characters

'none' (default) | 'tex' | 'latex'

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 {}.

Modifier	Description	Example
^{ }	Superscript	'text^{superscript}'
_{ }	Subscript	'text_{subscript}'
\bf	Bold font	'\bf text'
\it	Italic font	'\it text'
\sl	Oblique font (rarely available)	'\sl text'
\rm	Normal 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

GridOverData — Draw grid over data plots

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

DrawGridToOrigin — Draw radial lines within innermost circle

0 (default) | 1

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

Data Types: logical

GridAutoRefinement — Increase angle resolution

0 (default) | 1

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

GridWidth — Width of grid lines

0.5000 (default) | positive scalar

Width of grid lines, specified as a positive scalar.

Data Types: double

GridVisible — Show grid lines

1 (default) | 0

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

Data Types: logical

GridForeGroundColor — Color of foreground grid lines

[0.8000 0.8000 0.8000] (default) | 'none' | character vector of color names

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 Name	Short Name	RGB Triplet	Hexadecimal Color Code	Appearance
"red"	"r"	[1 0 0]	"#FF0000"
"green"	"g"	[0 1 0]	"#00FF00"
"blue"	"b"	[0 0 1]	"#0000FF"
"cyan"	"c"	[0 1 1]	"#00FFFF"
"magenta"	"m"	[1 0 1]	"#FF00FF"
"yellow"	"y"	[1 1 0]	"#FFFF00"
"black"	"k"	[0 0 0]	"#000000"
"white"	"w"	[1 1 1]	"#FFFFFF"

This table lists the default color palettes for plots in the light and dark themes.

Palette	Palette Colors
"gem" — Light theme default Before R2025a: Most plots use these colors by default.
"glow" — Dark theme default

You can get the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for these palettes using the orderedcolors and rgb2hex functions. For example, get the RGB triplets for the "gem" palette and convert them to hexadecimal color codes.

RGB = orderedcolors("gem");
H = rgb2hex(RGB);

Before R2023b: Get the RGB triplets using RGB = get(groot,"FactoryAxesColorOrder").

Before R2024a: Get the hexadecimal color codes using H = compose("#%02X%02X%02X",round(RGB*255)).

Data Types: double | char

GridBackGroundColor — Color of background grid lines

'w' (default) | character vector of color names | 'none'

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 Name	Short Name	RGB Triplet	Hexadecimal Color Code	Appearance
"red"	"r"	[1 0 0]	"#FF0000"
"green"	"g"	[0 1 0]	"#00FF00"
"blue"	"b"	[0 0 1]	"#0000FF"
"cyan"	"c"	[0 1 1]	"#00FFFF"
"magenta"	"m"	[1 0 1]	"#FF00FF"
"yellow"	"y"	[1 1 0]	"#FFFF00"
"black"	"k"	[0 0 0]	"#000000"
"white"	"w"	[1 1 1]	"#FFFFFF"

This table lists the default color palettes for plots in the light and dark themes.

Palette	Palette Colors
"gem" — Light theme default Before R2025a: Most plots use these colors by default.
"glow" — Dark theme default

You can get the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for these palettes using the orderedcolors and rgb2hex functions. For example, get the RGB triplets for the "gem" palette and convert them to hexadecimal color codes.

RGB = orderedcolors("gem");
H = rgb2hex(RGB);

Before R2023b: Get the RGB triplets using RGB = get(groot,"FactoryAxesColorOrder").

Before R2024a: Get the hexadecimal color codes using H = compose("#%02X%02X%02X",round(RGB*255)).

Data Types: double | char

Marker, Color, Line, and Font Properties

Marker — Marker symbol

'none' (default) | character vector of symbols

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.

Marker	Description	Resulting Marker
"o"	Circle
"+"	Plus sign
"*"	Asterisk
"."	Point
"x"	Cross
"_"	Horizontal line
"|"	Vertical line
"square"	Square
"diamond"	Diamond
"^"	Upward-pointing triangle
"v"	Downward-pointing triangle
">"	Right-pointing triangle
"<"	Left-pointing triangle
"pentagram"	Pentagram
"hexagram"	Hexagram
"none"	No markers	Not applicable

MarkerSize — Marker size

6 (default) | positive value

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

Data Types: double

ColorOrder — Colors to use for multiline plots

seven predefined colors (default) | three-column matrix of RGB triplets

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

ColorOrderIndex — Next color to use in color order

1 (default) | positive integer

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

EdgeColor — Color of data lines

'k' (default) | RGB triplet vector

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 Name	Short Name	RGB Triplet	Hexadecimal Color Code	Appearance
"red"	"r"	[1 0 0]	"#FF0000"
"green"	"g"	[0 1 0]	"#00FF00"
"blue"	"b"	[0 0 1]	"#0000FF"
"cyan"	"c"	[0 1 1]	"#00FFFF"
"magenta"	"m"	[1 0 1]	"#FF00FF"
"yellow"	"y"	[1 1 0]	"#FFFF00"
"black"	"k"	[0 0 0]	"#000000"
"white"	"w"	[1 1 1]	"#FFFFFF"

This table lists the default color palettes for plots in the light and dark themes.

Palette	Palette Colors
"gem" — Light theme default Before R2025a: Most plots use these colors by default.
"glow" — Dark theme default

You can get the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for these palettes using the orderedcolors and rgb2hex functions. For example, get the RGB triplets for the "gem" palette and convert them to hexadecimal color codes.

RGB = orderedcolors("gem");
H = rgb2hex(RGB);

Before R2023b: Get the RGB triplets using RGB = get(groot,"FactoryAxesColorOrder").

Before R2024a: Get the hexadecimal color codes using H = compose("#%02X%02X%02X",round(RGB*255)).

Data Types: double | char

LineStyle — Line style of the plot

'-' (default) | '--' | ':' | '-.' | 'none'

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

Symbol	Line Style	Resulting Line
'-'	Solid line
'--'	Dashed line
':'	Dotted line
'-.'	Dash-dotted line
'none'	No line	No line

LineWidth — Line width of plot

2 (default) | positive scalar | positive vector

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

FontSize — Font size of text in plot

10 (default) | positive scalar

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

FontSizeAutoMode — Set font size

'auto' (default) | 'manual'

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

Data Types: char