tiledlayout

Create tiled chart layout for displaying subplots

Syntax

tiledlayout

tiledlayout(m,n)

tiledlayout(arrangement)

tiledlayout(___,Name,Value)

tiledlayout(parent,___)

t = tiledlayout(___)

Description

tiledlayout creates a tiled chart layout for displaying multiple plots, also called subplots, in the current figure. The layout can display any number of plots and reflow according to the size of the figure and the number of axes. If there is no figure, MATLAB^® creates a figure and places the layout into it. If the current figure contains an existing layout or axes, MATLAB replaces it with a new layout. (since R2024b)

A tiled chart layout contains an invisible grid of tiles that covers the entire figure or parent container. Each tile can contain an axes object for displaying a plot. After creating a layout, call the nexttile function to place an axes object into the layout. Then call a plotting function to plot into the axes.

tiledlayout(m,n) creates a fixed-size grid for displaying up to m*n plots. The grid has m rows and n columns.

tiledlayout(arrangement) creates a layout that can hold any number of axes. Initially, there is only one empty tile that fills the entire layout. Specify an arrangement value to control the placement of subsequent axes:

• "flow" — Create a layout for a grid of axes that can reflow depending on the size of the figure and the number of axes.

• "vertical" — Create a layout for a vertical stack of axes. (since R2023a)

• "horizontal" — Create a layout for a horizontal stack of axes. (since R2023a)

You can specify the arrangement argument without parentheses. For example, tiledlayout vertical creates a layout for a vertical stack of axes.

tiledlayout(___,Name,Value) specifies additional options for the layout using one or more name-value pair arguments. Specify the options after all other input arguments. For example, tiledlayout(2,2,"TileSpacing","compact") creates a 2-by-2 layout with minimal spacing between the tiles. For a list of properties, see TiledChartLayout Properties.

tiledlayout(parent,___) creates the layout in the specified parent container rather than in the current figure. Specify the parent container before all other input arguments.

t = tiledlayout(___) returns the TiledChartLayout object. Use t to configure properties of the layout after creating it.

Examples

Create 2-by-2 Layout

Create a 2-by-2 tiled chart layout, and call the peaks function to get the coordinates of a predefined surface. Create an axes object in the first tile by calling the nexttile function. Then call the surf function to plot into the axes. Repeat the process using different plotting functions for the other three tiles.

tiledlayout(2,2);
[X,Y,Z] = peaks(20);

% Tile 1
nexttile
surf(X,Y,Z)

% Tile 2
nexttile
contour(X,Y,Z)

% Tile 3
nexttile
imagesc(Z)

% Tile 4
nexttile
plot3(X,Y,Z)

Create Flow Layout

Since R2024b

Create four coordinate vectors: x, y1, y2, and y3.

x = linspace(0,30);
y1 = sin(x/2);
y2 = sin(x/3);
y3 = sin(x/4);

To create a tiled chart layout that can accommodate any number of plots, call the tiledlayout function without any input arguments. (You can also use the tiledlayout("flow") command, which produces the same result.)

Create the first axes by calling the nexttile function. Then plot y1 against x in the axes and add a title. This plot fills the entire layout.

tiledlayout
nexttile
plot(x,y1)
title("Plot of sin(x/2)")

Create a second tile and axes, and plot into the axes.

nexttile
plot(x,y2)
title("Plot of sin(x/3)")

Repeat the process to create a third plot.

nexttile
plot(x,y3)
title("Plot of sin(x/4)")

Repeat the process to create a fourth plot. This time, plot all three lines in the same axes by calling hold on after plotting y1.

nexttile
plot(x,y1)
hold on
plot(x,y2)
plot(x,y3)
title("Three Sine Waves")
hold off

Create Vertical Stack of Plots

Create a tiled chart layout that has a vertical stack of plots by specifying the "vertical" option when you call the tiledlayout function. Then create three plots by calling the nexttile function followed by a plotting function. Each time you call nexttile, a new axes object is added to the bottom of the stack.

tiledlayout("vertical")
x = 0:0.1:5;
nexttile
plot(x,sin(x))
nexttile
plot(x,sin(x+1))
nexttile
plot(x,sin(x+2))

Create Horizontal Stack of Plots

Create a tiled chart layout that has a horizontal stack of plots by specifying the "horizontal" option when you call the tiledlayout function. Then create three plots by calling the nexttile function followed by a plotting function. Each time you call nexttile, a new axes object is added to the right side of the stack.

tiledlayout("horizontal")
x = 0:0.1:10;
nexttile
plot(x,sin(x/2))
nexttile
plot(x,sin(x))
nexttile
plot(x,sin(2*x))

Adjust Layout Spacing

Create five coordinate vectors: x, y1, y2, y3, and y4. Then call the tiledlayout function to create a 2-by-2 layout and specify a return argument to store the TileChartLayout object. Call the nexttile function to create an axes object in the next empty tile before calling the plot function.

x = linspace(0,30);
y1 = sin(x);
y2 = sin(x/2);
y3 = sin(x/3);
y4 = sin(x/4);
t = tiledlayout(2,2);

% Tile 1
nexttile
plot(x,y1)

% Tile 2
nexttile
plot(x,y2)

% Tile 3
nexttile
plot(x,y3)

% Tile 4
nexttile
plot(x,y4)

Decrease the amount of space between the tiles by setting the TileSpacing property to 'compact'. Then decrease the space between the edges of the layout and the edges of the figure by setting the Padding property to 'compact'.

t.TileSpacing = 'compact';
t.Padding = 'compact';

Create Shared Title and Axis Labels

Create a 2-by-2 tiled chart layout t. Specify the TileSpacing name-value pair argument to minimize the space between the tiles. Then create a titled plot in each tile.

t = tiledlayout(2,2,'TileSpacing','Compact');

% Tile 1
nexttile
plot(rand(1,20))
title('Sample 1')

% Tile 2
nexttile
plot(rand(1,20))
title('Sample 2')

% Tile 3
nexttile
plot(rand(1,20))
title('Sample 3')

% Tile 4
nexttile
plot(rand(1,20))
title('Sample 4')

Display a shared title and axis labels by passing t to the title, xlabel, and ylabel functions.

title(t,'Size vs. Distance')
xlabel(t,'Distance (mm)')
ylabel(t,'Size (mm)')

Create Layout in a Panel

Create a panel in a figure. Then create a tiled chart layout in the panel by specifying the panel object as the first argument to the tiledlayout function. Display a plot in each tile.

p = uipanel('Position',[.1 .2 .8 .6]);
t = tiledlayout(p,2,1);

% Tile 1
nexttile(t)
stem(1:13)

% Tile 2
nexttile(t)
bar([10 22 31 43 52])

Set Properties on the Axes

Call the tiledlayout function to create a 2-by-1 tiled chart layout. Call the nexttile function with an output argument to store the axes. Then plot into the axes, and set the x- and y-axis colors to red. Repeat the process in the second tile.

t = tiledlayout(2,1);

% First tile
ax1 = nexttile;
plot([1 2 3 4 5],[11 6 10 4 18]);
ax1.XColor = [1 0 0];
ax1.YColor = [1 0 0];

% Second tile
ax2 = nexttile;
plot([1 2 3 4 5],[5 1 12 9 2],'o');
ax2.XColor = [1 0 0];
ax2.YColor = [1 0 0];

Create Axes That Span Multiple Rows and Columns

Define scores and strikes as vectors containing bowling league data over four games. Then create a tiled chart layout and display three plots showing the number of strikes for each team.

scores = [444 460 380 
          387 366 500 
          365 451 611 
          548 412 452];

strikes = [9  6  5  
           6  4  8 
           4  7  16  
           10 9  8];
     
t = tiledlayout('flow');

% Team 1
nexttile
plot([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,1),'-o')
title('Team 1 Strikes')

% Team 2
nexttile
plot([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,2),'-o')
title('Team 2 Strikes')

% Team 3
nexttile
plot([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,3),'-o')
title('Team 3 Strikes')

Call the nexttile function to create an axes object that spans two rows by three columns. Then display a bar graph in the axes with a legend, and configure the axis tick values and labels. Call the title function to add a tile to the layout.

nexttile([2 3]);
bar([1 2 3 4],scores)
legend('Team 1','Team 2','Team 3','Location','northwest')

% Configure ticks and axis labels
xticks([1 2 3 4])
xlabel('Game')
ylabel('Score')

% Add layout title
title(t,'April Bowling League Data')

Span Axes at Specific Tile Number

To span an axes object from a specific location, specify the tile number and the span value.

Define scores and strikes as vectors containing bowling league data over four games. Then create a 3-by-3 tiled chart layout and display five bar graphs showing the number of strikes for each team.

scores = [444 460 380 388 389
          387 366 500 467 460
          365 451 611 426 495
          548 412 452 471 402];

strikes = [9  6  5  7  5
           6  4  8 10  7
           4  7 16  9  9
           10  9  8  8  9];
       
t = tiledlayout(3,3);

% Team 1
nexttile
bar([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,1))
title('Team 1 Strikes')

% Team 2
nexttile
bar([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,2))
title('Team 2 Strikes')

% Team 3
nexttile
bar([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,3))
title('Team 3 Strikes')

% Team 4
nexttile
bar([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,4))
title('Team 4 Strikes')

% Team 5
nexttile(7)
bar([1 2 3 4],strikes(:,5))
title('Team 5 Strikes')

Display a larger plot with a legend. Call the nexttile function to place the upper left corner of the axes in the fifth tile, and span the axes across two rows by two columns of tiles. Plot the scores for all the teams. Configure the x-axis to display four ticks, and add labels to each axis. Then add a shared title at the top of the layout.

nexttile(5,[2 2]);
plot([1 2 3 4],scores,'-.')
labels = {'Team 1','Team 2','Team 3','Team 4','Team 5'};
legend(labels,'Location','northwest')

% Configure ticks and axis labels
xticks([1 2 3 4])
xlabel('Game')
ylabel('Score')

% Add layout title
title(t,'April Bowling League Data')

Display Polar and Geographic Plots

Create a 1-by-2 tiled chart layout. In the first tile, display a geographic plot containing a line that connects two cities on a map. In the second tile, create a scatter plot in polar coordinates.

tiledlayout(1,2)

% Display geographic plot
nexttile
geoplot([47.62 61.20],[-122.33 -149.90],'g-*')

% Display polar plot
nexttile
theta = pi/4:pi/4:2*pi;
rho = [19 6 12 18 16 11 15 15];
polarscatter(theta,rho)

Reconfigure Content in Previous Tile

One of the ways that the nexttile output argument is useful is when you want to adjust the content in a previous tile. For example, you might decide to reconfigure the colormap used in a previous plot.

Create a 2-by-2 tiled chart layout. Call the peaks function to get the coordinates for a predefined surface. Then create a different plot of the surface in each tile.

tiledlayout(2,2);
[X,Y,Z] = peaks(20);

% Tile 1
nexttile
surf(X,Y,Z)

% Tile 2
nexttile
contour(X,Y,Z)

% Tile 3
nexttile
imagesc(Z)

% Tile 4
nexttile
plot3(X,Y,Z)

To change the colormap in the third tile, get the axes in that tile. Call the nexttile function by specifying the tile number, and return the axes output argument. Then pass the axes to the colormap function.

ax = nexttile(3);
colormap(ax,cool)

Reconfigure Spanned Axes

Create a 2-by-3 tiled chart layout containing two plots in individual tiles, and one plot that spans across two rows and two columns.

t = tiledlayout(2,3);
[X,Y,Z] = peaks;

% Tile 1
nexttile
contour(X,Y,Z)

% Span across two rows and columns
nexttile([2 2])
contourf(X,Y,Z)

% Last tile
nexttile
imagesc(Z)

To change the colormap for the spanned axes, identify the tile location as one containing the upper-left corner of the axes. In this case, the upper-left corner is in the second tile. Call the nexttile function with 2 as tile location, and specify an output argument to return the axes object at that location. Then pass the axes to the colormap function.

ax = nexttile(2);
colormap(ax,hot)

Replace Content in Previous Tile

Load the patients data set and create a table from a subset of the variables. Then create a 2-by-2 tiled chart layout. Display a scatter plot in the first tile, a heatmap in the second tile, and a stacked plot across the bottom two tiles.

load patients
tbl = table(Diastolic,Smoker,Systolic,Height,Weight,SelfAssessedHealthStatus);
tiledlayout(2,2)

% Scatter plot
nexttile
scatter(tbl.Height,tbl.Weight)

% Heatmap
nexttile
heatmap(tbl,'Smoker','SelfAssessedHealthStatus','Title','Smoker''s Health');

% Stacked plot
nexttile([1 2])
stackedplot(tbl,{'Systolic','Diastolic'});

Call nexttile, and specify the tile number as 1 to make the axes in that tile the current axes. Replace the contents of that tile with a scatter histogram.

nexttile(1)
scatterhistogram(tbl,'Height','Weight');

Display Shared Colorbar in Separate Tile

When you want to share a colorbar or legend between two or more plots, you can place it in a separate tile.

Create filled contour plots of the peaks and membrane data sets in a tiled chart layout.

Z1 = peaks;
Z2 = membrane;
tiledlayout(2,1);
nexttile
contourf(Z1)
nexttile
contourf(Z2)

Add a colorbar, and move it to the east tile.

cb = colorbar;
cb.Layout.Tile = 'east';

Create Axes Without nexttile and Position it Manually

Occasionally, you might need to create the axes by calling one of the axes functions (axes, polaraxes, or geoaxes). When you create the axes with one of these functions, specify the parent argument as the tiled chart layout. Then position the axes by setting the Layout property on the axes.

Create a tiled chart layout t and specify the 'flow' tile arrangement. Display a plot in each of the first three tiles.

t = tiledlayout('flow');
nexttile
plot(rand(1,10));
nexttile
plot(rand(1,10));
nexttile
plot(rand(1,10));

Create a geographic axes object gax by calling the geoaxes function and specify t as the parent argument. By default, the axes goes into the first tile, so move it to the fourth tile by setting gax.Layout.Tile to 4. Span the axes across a 2-by-3 region of tiles by setting gax.Layout.TileSpan to [2 3].

gax = geoaxes(t);
gax.Layout.Tile = 4;
gax.Layout.TileSpan = [2 3];

Call the geoplot function. Then configure the map center and zoom level for the axes.

geoplot(gax,[47.62 61.20],[-122.33 -149.90],'g-*')
gax.MapCenter = [47.62 -122.33];
gax.ZoomLevel = 2;

Input Arguments

m — Number of rows

positive whole number

Number of rows, specified as a positive whole number.

Example: tiledlayout(2,3) creates a tiled chart layout that has two rows and three columns of tiles.

n — Number of columns

positive whole number

Number of columns, specified as a positive whole number.

Example: tiledlayout(2,3) creates a tiled chart layout that has two rows and three columns of tiles.

arrangement — Tile arrangement

"flow" (default) | "vertical" | "horizontal"

Tile arrangement, specified as one of these values:

• "flow" — Create a layout for a grid of axes. Each time you call nexttile, the layout reflows as needed to accommodate the new axes while maintaining an aspect ratio of roughly 4:3 for all the axes.

• "vertical" — Create a layout for a vertical stack of axes. Each time you call nexttile, a new axes object is added to the bottom of the stack. (since R2023a)

• "horizontal" — Create a layout for a horizontal stack of axes. Each time you call nexttile, a new axes object is added to the right side of the stack. (since R2023a)

Example: tiledlayout("vertical") creates a layout for a vertical stack of axes.

parent — Parent container

Figure object | Panel object | Tab object | TiledChartLayout object

Parent container, specified as a Figure, Panel, Tab, or TiledChartLayout object.

Name-Value Arguments

Specify optional pairs of arguments as Name1=Value1,...,NameN=ValueN, where Name is the argument name and Value is the corresponding value. Name-value arguments must appear after other arguments, but the order of the pairs does not matter.

Before R2021a, use commas to separate each name and value, and enclose Name in quotes.

Example: tiledlayout(2,2,"TileSpacing","compact") creates a 2-by-2 layout that has minimal spacing between the tiles.

Note

The properties listed here are only a subset. For a complete list, see TiledChartLayout Properties.

TileSpacing — Tile spacing

"loose" (default) | "compact" | "tight" | "none"

Tile spacing, specified as "loose", "compact", "tight" or "none". Use this property to control the spacing between the tiles.

This table shows how each value affects the appearance of a 2-by-2 layout.

Value	Appearance
"loose"
"compact"
"tight"
"none"

Padding — Padding around layout

"loose" (default) | "compact" | "tight"

Padding around the perimeter of the layout, specified as "loose", "compact", or "tight". The layout provides space for all decorations, such as axis labels, regardless of the value of this property.

This table shows how each value affects the appearance of a 2-by-2 layout.

Value	Appearance
"loose"
"compact"
"tight"

Version History

Introduced in R2019b

R2024b: Create layouts without specifying the dimensions or tile arrangement argument

Call the tiledlayout function without specifying the dimensions (m and n) or the arrangement argument. When you omit these arguments, tiledlayout creates a layout in the "flow" configuration, which can accommodate any number of tiles.

R2023a: Stack the axes vertically or horizontally

Create a vertical or horizontal layout by specifying "vertical" or "horizontal" as the arrangement value when you call tiledlayout.

R2021a: Tile spacing and padding options have new names and behavior

When you create a tiled chart layout, some of the TileSpacing and Padding properties provide a different result or have new names.

The new TileSpacing options are "loose", "compact", "tight", and "none". The new Padding options are "loose", "compact", and "tight". The following tables describe how the previous options relate to the new options.

TileSpacing Changes

Previous TileSpacing Option	R2021a TileSpacing Option	How to Update Your Code
"normal"	"loose"	Consider changing instances of "normal" to "loose". The "normal" option is no longer recommended, but it continues to work, and there are no plans to remove it.
"compact"	"compact"	No changes needed.
Not Applicable	"tight"	"tight" is a new option. It provides the same result as "none" does in previous releases.
"none"	"none"	The "none" option removes all the space between adjacent plot boxes, and the tick labels overlap with neighboring plot boxes. To preserve the spacing between the plot boxes, change instances of "none" to "tight".

Padding Changes

Previous Padding Option	R2021a Padding Option	How to Update Your Code
"normal"	"loose"	Consider changing instances of "normal" to "loose". The "normal" option is no longer recommended, but it continues to work, and there are no plans to remove it.
"compact"	"compact"	No changes needed.
"none"	"tight"	Consider changing instances of "none" to "tight". The "none" option is no longer recommended, but it continues to work, and there are no plans to remove it.

R2019b: Recommended over subplot

tiledlayout creates layouts that are more customizable and configurable than the layouts created by subplot. For example, you can create layouts with adjustable tile spacing, tiles that reflow according to the size of the figure, and better placed colorbars and legends.