Matplotlib.pyplot.show() in Python

Last Updated : 12 Jul, 2025

Matplotlib is a library in Python and it is numerical - mathematical extension for NumPy library. Pyplot is a state-based interface to a Matplotlib module which provides a MATLAB-like interface. Sample Code -

Python3 1==

# sample code
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt 
  
plt.plot([1, 2, 3, 4], [16, 4, 1, 8]) 
plt.show()

Output:

matplotlib.pyplot.show() Function

The show() function in pyplot module of matplotlib library is used to display all figures.

Syntax:
matplotlib.pyplot.show(*args, **kw)
Parameters: This method accepts only one parameter which is discussed below:

block : This parameter is used to override the blocking behavior described above.

Returns: This method does not return any value.

Below examples illustrate the matplotlib.pyplot.show() function in matplotlib.pyplot: Example #1:

Python3 1==

# Implementation of matplotlib function
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

fig = plt.figure()
x = np.arange(20) / 50
y = (x + 0.1)*2

val1 = [True, False] * 10
val2 = [False, True] * 10

plt.errorbar(x, y, 
             xerr = 0.1, 
             xlolims = True, 
             label ='Line 1')

y = (x + 0.3)*3

plt.errorbar(x + 0.6, y, 
             xerr = 0.1,
             xuplims = val1,
             xlolims = val2,
             label ='Line 2')

y = (x + 0.6)*4
plt.errorbar(x + 1.2, y,
             xerr = 0.1, 
             xuplims = True,
             label ='Line 3')

plt.legend()

fig.suptitle('matplotlib.pyplot.show() Example')
plt.show()

Output:

Example #2:

Python3 1==

# Implementation of matplotlib function
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

x = np.linspace(0, 10, 500)
y = np.sin(x**2)+np.cos(x)

fig, ax = plt.subplots()

ax.plot(x, y, label ='Line 1')

ax.plot(x, y - 0.6, label ='Line 2')

ax.legend()

fig.suptitle('matplotlib.pyplot.show() Example')
plt.show()