How to plot a circle in python using matplotlib ?

Examples of how to plot a circle in python using matplotlib:

Plot a circle using plot()

To plot a circle a first solution is to use the function plot():

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

theta = np.linspace(0, 2*np.pi, 100)

r = np.sqrt(1.0)

x1 = r*np.cos(theta)
x2 = r*np.sin(theta)

fig, ax = plt.subplots(1)

ax.plot(x1, x2)
ax.set_aspect(1)

plt.xlim(-1.25,1.25)
plt.ylim(-1.25,1.25)

plt.grid(linestyle='--')

plt.title('How to plot a circle with matplotlib ?', fontsize=8)

plt.savefig("plot_circle_matplotlib_01.png", bbox_inches='tight')

plt.show()

Using Matplotlib patches circle

A second solution is to use matplotlib.patches.Circle:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

circle1 = plt.Circle((0, 0), 0.5, color='r')

fig, ax = plt.subplots()

plt.xlim(-1.25,1.25)
plt.ylim(-1.25,1.25)

plt.grid(linestyle='--')

ax.set_aspect(1)

ax.add_artist(circle1)

plt.title('How to plot a circle with matplotlib ?', fontsize=8)

plt.savefig("plot_circle_matplotlib_02.png", bbox_inches='tight')

plt.show()

Plot a circle using the circle equation

Another solution from the circle equation

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

x = np.linspace(-1.0, 1.0, 100)
y = np.linspace(-1.0, 1.0, 100)

X, Y = np.meshgrid(x,y)

F = X**2 + Y**2 - 1.0

fig, ax = plt.subplots()

ax.contour(X,Y,F,[0])

ax.set_aspect(1)

plt.title('How to plot a circle with matplotlib ?', fontsize=8)

plt.xlim(-1.25,1.25)
plt.ylim(-1.25,1.25)

plt.grid(linestyle='--')

plt.savefig("plot_circle_matplotlib_03.png", bbox_inches='tight')

plt.show()

References