Documentation

Line Plot with Dates

Create a line plot with datetime values on the x-axis. Then, change the format of the tick labels and the x-axis limits.

Create t as a sequence of dates and create y as random data. Plot the vectors using the plot function.

t = datetime(2014,6,28) + calweeks(0:9);
y = rand(1,10);
plot(t,y);

By default, plot chooses tick mark locations based on the range of data. When you zoom in and out of a plot, the tick labels automatically adjust to the new axis limits.

Change the x-axis limits. Also, change the format for the tick labels along the x-axis. For a list of formatting options, see the xtickformat function.

xlim(datetime(2014,[7 8],[12 23]))
xtickformat('dd-MMM-yyyy')

Line Plot with Durations

Create a line plot with duration values on the x-axis. Then, change the format of the tick labels and the x-axis limits.

Create t as seven linearly spaced duration values between 0 and 3 minutes. Create y as a vector of random data. Plot the data.

t = 0:seconds(30):minutes(3);
y = rand(1,7);
plot(t,y);

View the x-axis limits. Since the duration tick labels are in terms of a single unit (minutes), the limits are stored in terms of that unit.

xl = xlim

xl = 1x2 duration
    -4.5 sec   184.5 sec

Change the format for the duration tick labels to display in the form of a digital timer that includes more than one unit. For a list of formatting options, see the xtickformat function.

xtickformat('mm:ss')

View the x-axis limits again. Since the duration tick labels are now in terms of multiple units, the limits are stored in units of 24-hour days.

xl = xlim

xl = 1x2 duration
   -00:04    03:04

Scatter Plot with Dates and Durations

Create a scatter plot with datetime or duration inputs using the scatter or scatter3 functions. For example, create a scatter plot with dates along the x-axis.

t = datetime('today') + caldays(1:100);
y = linspace(10,40,100) + 10*rand(1,100);
scatter(t,y)

Plots that Support Dates and Durations

You can create other types of plots with datetime or duration values. These graphics functions support datetime and duration values.