`legend`

Adds a legend that names the data series of the axes.

Category: Graphics > Formatting and Annotation

Syntax

legend(label1, ..., labelN)

Labels the plotted series in order with the given text.

legend(labels)

Takes the labels from a cell array or string array.

legend

Creates a legend using each series' DisplayName, or data1, data2 and so on.

legend(___, 'Location', loc)

Places the legend, for example 'southwest' or 'northeastoutside'.

legend off

Removes the legend. legend boxoff hides only its frame.

lgd = legend(___)

Returns the legend object.

Description

The legend lists one entry per series in the axes, showing a sample of its line or marker next to the label. With explicit labels, they are matched to the series in drawing order; with the DisplayName property set when plotting, legend with no arguments uses those names and stays correct if the order changes.

Call legend after the series exist, because a legend is not updated by series added later unless it is requested again.

Input arguments

label1, ..., labelN: Text labels, one per series, in the order the series were drawn.
Location: Position of the legend. The default is 'northeast'.

Output arguments

lgd: Legend object, class matlab.graphics.illustration.Legend, with properties such as String and Location.

Example

Names from DisplayName

x = 0:0.2:6;
plot(x, sin(x), 'DisplayName', 'sin')
hold on
plot(x, cos(x), 'DisplayName', 'cos')
hold off
lgd = legend;
lgd.String

Output

ans = 1×2 cell

    {'sin'}    {'cos'}

legend