Plotting a DataFrame in Python

Pandas draws through matplotlib, and hands the axes back for finishing.

import matplotlib

matplotlib.use("Agg")
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import pandas as pd

frame = pd.DataFrame(
    {"python": [88, 92, 104], "rust": [80, 85, 91]},
    index=pd.date_range("2026-07-27", periods=3, freq="D"))

figure, axes = plt.subplots()
frame.plot(ax=axes, marker="o")
axes.set_ylabel("tpm")
axes.grid(axis="y", alpha=0.3)
figure.savefig("frame.png")
print(type(axes).__name__)

How it works

1. frame.plot accepts an ax so it joins a figure you built.
2. The index becomes the x axis by default.
3. The returned axes is an ordinary matplotlib axes.

Keywords and builtins used here

• as
• print
• type

The run, in numbers

Lines

16

Characters to type

392

Tokens

135

Three-star pace

110 tpm

At the three-star pace of 110 tokens a minute, this run takes about 74 seconds.

Type this snippet

Step 4 of 4 in Reading the plot, step 13 of 14 in Plotting with matplotlib.

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