ListDensityPlot3D
✖
ListDensityPlot3D
generates a density plot with values fi at the specified points {xi,yi,zi}.
Details and Options




- ListDensityPlot3D is also known as volume map.
- ListDensityPlot3D works by interpolating the given data into a function
, then maps the value to a color
and an opacity
independently.
- The opacity function
is typically used to make some range of values visible, while making some others invisible.
- For regular data, the function
has value farr[[i,j,k]] at
.
- For irregular data,
has value fi at
.
- The plot visualizes the set
where
is a color function,
is an opacity function and the region reg is the Cartesian product
for regular data and the convex hull of {{x1,y1,z1},…,{xn,yn,zn}} for irregular data.
- farr should be an array of real numbers; positions where farr is not a real number are rendered transparently.
- ListDensityPlot3D[Tabular[…]cspec] extracts and plots values from the tabular object using the column specification cspec.
- The following forms of column specifications cspec are allowed for plotting tabular data:
-
{colx,coly,colz,colf} plot column f against columns x, y and z - ListDensityPlot3D linearly interpolates values so as to give color changes.
- ListDensityPlot3D is mainly intended for continuous values; ArrayPlot3D is intended for purely discrete values.
- ListDensityPlot3D has the same options as Graphics3D, with the following additions and changes: [List of all options]
-
Axes True whether to draw axes BoxRatios {1,1,1} bounding 3D box ratios ColorFunction Automatic how to color the plot ColorFunctionScaling True whether to scale the arguments to ColorFunction DataRange Automatic the range for x, y, and z values to assume MaxPlotPoints Automatic the maximum number of points to include OpacityFunction Automatic how to compute the opacity at each point OpacityFunctionScaling True whether to scale the arguments to OpacityFunction PerformanceGoal $PerformanceGoal aspects of performance to optimize PlotLegends None legends for color gradients PlotRange {Full,Full,Full,Automatic} range of f or other values to include PlotTheme $PlotTheme overall theme for the plot RegionFunction (True&) how to determine whether a point should be included ScalingFunctions None how to scale individual coordinates TargetUnits Automatic desired units to use - ColorFunction and OpacityFunction are supplied with a single argument, given by default by the scaled value of f.
- Typical settings for OpacityFunction include:
-
Automatic automatically determined None no opacity function, fully opaque α constant opacity Opacity[α] Interval[…] make values in the interval more opaque "Image3D" default opacity function used in Image3D func general opacity function - The arguments supplied to RegionFunction are x, y, z, and f.
- The setting DataRange->{{xmin,xmax},{ymin,ymax},{zmin,zmax}} specifies the ranges for x, y, and z coordinates to assume when given an array of f values only as input.
- For an farr of dimension {r,s,t}, the setting DataRangeAutomatic is equivalent to DataRange{{1,r},{1,s},{1,t}}.
- Possible settings for ScalingFunctions include:
-
{sx,sy,sz} scale x, y and z axes - Common built-in scaling functions s include:
-
"Log" log scale with automatic tick labeling "Log10" base-10 log scale with powers of 10 for ticks "SignedLog" log-like scale that includes 0 and negative numbers "Reverse" reverse the coordinate direction -
AlignmentPoint Center the default point in the graphic to align with AspectRatio Automatic ratio of height to width Axes True whether to draw axes AxesEdge Automatic on which edges to put axes AxesLabel None axes labels AxesOrigin Automatic where axes should cross AxesStyle {} graphics directives to specify the style for axes Background None background color for the plot BaselinePosition Automatic how to align with a surrounding text baseline BaseStyle {} base style specifications for the graphic Boxed True whether to draw the bounding box BoxRatios {1,1,1} bounding 3D box ratios BoxStyle {} style specifications for the box ClipPlanes None clipping planes ClipPlanesStyle Automatic style specifications for clipping planes ColorFunction Automatic how to color the plot ColorFunctionScaling True whether to scale the arguments to ColorFunction ContentSelectable Automatic whether to allow contents to be selected ControllerLinking False when to link to external rotation controllers ControllerPath Automatic what external controllers to try to use DataRange Automatic the range for x, y, and z values to assume Epilog {} 2D graphics primitives to be rendered after the main plot FaceGrids None grid lines to draw on the bounding box FaceGridsStyle {} style specifications for face grids FormatType TraditionalForm default format type for text ImageMargins 0. the margins to leave around the graphic ImagePadding All what extra padding to allow for labels, etc. ImageSize Automatic absolute size at which to render the graphic LabelStyle {} style specifications for labels Lighting Automatic simulated light sources to use MaxPlotPoints Automatic the maximum number of points to include Method Automatic details of 3D graphics methods to use OpacityFunction Automatic how to compute the opacity at each point OpacityFunctionScaling True whether to scale the arguments to OpacityFunction PerformanceGoal $PerformanceGoal aspects of performance to optimize PlotLabel None a label for the plot PlotLegends None legends for color gradients PlotRange {Full,Full,Full,Automatic} range of f or other values to include PlotRangePadding Automatic how much to pad the range of values PlotRegion Automatic final display region to be filled PlotTheme $PlotTheme overall theme for the plot PreserveImageOptions Automatic whether to preserve image options when displaying new versions of the same graphic Prolog {} 2D graphics primitives to be rendered before the main plot RegionFunction (True&) how to determine whether a point should be included RotationAction "Fit" how to render after interactive rotation ScalingFunctions None how to scale individual coordinates SphericalRegion Automatic whether to make the circumscribing sphere fit in the final display area TargetUnits Automatic desired units to use Ticks Automatic specification for ticks TicksStyle {} style specification for ticks TouchscreenAutoZoom False whether to zoom to fullscreen when activated on a touchscreen ViewAngle Automatic angle of the field of view ViewCenter Automatic point to display at the center ViewMatrix Automatic explicit transformation matrix ViewPoint {1.3,-2.4,2.} viewing position ViewProjection Automatic projection method for rendering objects distant from the viewer ViewRange All range of viewing distances to include ViewVector Automatic position and direction of a simulated camera ViewVertical {0,0,1} direction to make vertical

List of all options




Examples
open allclose allBasic Examples (2)Summary of the most common use cases
Plot the density for an array of values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-dd41l8

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-dh8jn0

Use a different color scheme and legend:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-obhdyh

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-j5iqcs

Scope (16)Survey of the scope of standard use cases
Data (7)
For regular data consisting of values, the
,
, and
data reflects its positions in the array:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ffww4a

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-inrbez

Provide explicit ,
, and
data ranges by using DataRange:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-emccys

Give explicit ,
,
,
coordinates for points in a density:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-3s6wn

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-epg87p

For irregular data , the
,
, and
data ranges are inferred from data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-i68p3f

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-jshbpj

Use RegionFunction to constrain data inclusion more generally:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-32xq1

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bp7apd

Plot the density for an array of values given by SparseArray:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-f3uymb

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-maur6q

Plot the density for an array of values given by QuantityArray:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-nkk95

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-i4irn

Use ClipPlanes to specify one or several clipping planes. In this case, clip :

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-budjl1

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ejfay2

Tabular Data (1)

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-he4gp6

Plot tabular data in which each column represents data in the form {x,y,z,f}:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fwhldp

Include a legend for the plot:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-inno50

Presentation (8)
Use PlotTheme to immediately get overall styling:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-m9tdc4

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-y8rcdq

Use PlotLegends to get a color bar for the different values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-dsmbi8

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-i9z1q4

Control the display of axes with Axes:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-hfh2wv

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-do93jz

Label axes using AxesLabel and the whole plot using PlotLabel:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fjzemg

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-7yglfq

Color the plot by the function values with ColorFunction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-flc5ws

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-j3f5p2

Use a custom opacity function to specify the opacity for each point volume:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-nvvgf2

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-yec8g

TargetUnits specifies which units to use in the visualization:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-b3zsgj

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-urblj5

Use ScalingFunctions in the x direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-3nou14

Options (38)Common values & functionality for each option
BoxRatios (3)
By default, the edges of the bounding box have the same length:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ez6xox

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-daxvab

Use BoxRatiosAutomatic to show the natural scale of the 3D coordinate values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-nss17u

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-f32maw

Specify the ratios between the bounding box lengths:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ezhcgq

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-b3qm23

ClipPlanes (3)
Use ClipPlanes to specify a clipping plane. In this case, clip :

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-biecks

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-u4trez

Specify several clip planes, in this case clipping and
:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-f05eep

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-9l9wut

Compare to the general RegionFunction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-gbpqp6

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-5ajcqr

ColorFunction (2)
Color by scaled f value at x, y, z coordinates:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-babmmy

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-msece6

Use color functions from ColorData:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-d7pcu3

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-cl0iil

ColorFunctionScaling (2)
Parameters to ColorFunction are normally scaled to be between 0 and 1:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-f9nrfb

Use unscaled coordinates by setting ColorFunctionScaling to False:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ctf52

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ctzkd2

DataRange (2)
By default, the data range is taken to be the dimension of the array:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bqgkjv

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-k2najw

Explicitly specify the data range:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-hwwgp3

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-jasyjv

MaxPlotPoints (1)
OpacityFunction (5)
OpacityFunction is Automatic by default:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ig1e1w

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-1rhyl

Use None to make the whole volume opaque:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-brectz

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-in3sxv

Use a custom opacity function to specify the opacity for each point volume:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bx68kv

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-cvastz

Make values in the intervals and
more opaque:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-7kuul

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-d4as8j

Use a constant opacity Opacity[0.05]:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-cl19zn

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-82ppdv

OpacityFunctionScaling (2)
By default, scaled values are used:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bfaa9j

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-cjj88v

Use unscaled density values by setting OpacityFunctionScaling to False:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-hs3vfj

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-p1738n

PerformanceGoal (2)
Generate a higher-quality plot:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-epvl6y

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bh7jlg

Emphasize performance, possibly at the cost of quality:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-f84jkc

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-b7opos

PlotLegends (2)
No legends are used by default:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-b9wdq2

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-jd9hwq

Use PlotLegends->Automatic to show a legended plot:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-kmd4rs

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-hn55ld

PlotRange (3)
By default, the full plot range is shown:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-kfjab0

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-eetyzq

Use specific ranges to show more detail:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-d4kjt

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-mmfi9u

Show only function values between 0 and 0.2:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-h1avil

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-m0kjnp


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-btfanf

PlotTheme (3)
Use a theme with detailed grid lines, ticks, and legends:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-buo0e4

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-dal5aj


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-629nd

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-hg6xj

Compare different plot themes:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bjo9az

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-0rff5f

RegionFunction (3)

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-vgr01

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-hy1cva


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-o7lvek

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-129226

Regions do not have to be connected:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bkt2h

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-9m1wur

ScalingFunctions (4)
By default, plots have linear scales in all directions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fiz0pu

Create a plot with a log-scaled axis:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-len2qr

Use ScalingFunctions to scale to reverse the coordinate direction in the direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-yxqp8v

Use a scale defined by a function and its inverse:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-etsdt8

Applications (13)Sample problems that can be solved with this function
Elementary Functions (4)

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-d7g2o

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-c1wwxq


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-kkv9gr


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-lt4pqt


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ou5i2


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ca0wen


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-p1zn1

Plot , a product of univariate functions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fyead

Plot and
, univariate and bivariate functions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fyn8ax


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-dvwij4


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-l4zx6v

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-detpz

Pick the points randomly in a box:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fz9nz1

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-9umep

Simulation Data (6)
Plot a probability density function of three variables:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-jojw2


https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ns9dsl

Simulate the distribution and compute the bin counts:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fxpkjs

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-i49xzo

Simulate a random walk and show the path:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ebtead

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-du49fa

Bin the position that the walk hits in space and show the density:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-huzljd

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-chvmfu

Plot the evolution of two-dimensional cellular automata:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-maffw

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-c668oj

Generate a Menger sponge array:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ho1851

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-cl5qcb

Plot the evolution of a substitution system:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ea0h3e

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-hld65

Simulate a discrete diffusion model of a two-dimensional array of random values by averaging values of a radius-1 neighborhood in the array:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-1sg49

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bkilu9

Data Patterns (3)
Visualize the phase for a 3D discrete Fourier transform on data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bj2gjr

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ukh1s

Bin the position of atoms in a protein and show the density:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-lkn759

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-drec83

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-ctauzu

Compare with the molecule plot:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-iqr64u

Visualize MRI data from a brain:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-djfijw

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-utje4

To get the same orientation used by Image3D, use the option DataReversed:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-c8q5c9

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bqwu74

Properties & Relations (6)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions
Use ListSliceDensityPlot3D for density plots over slice surfaces:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-eja0fp

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-4kw5kb

Use ListDensityPlot for density plots in 2D:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-5blhs

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-z3puov

Use DensityPlot3D for functions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-msfbsm

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-s3djgy

Use ListSliceContourPlot3D for contours over slice surfaces:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-fk7z3z

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-e7t1tl

Use ListContourPlot3D for constant value surfaces:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-bmlypx

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-4gfzgs

Use ArrayPlot3D for discrete data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-dkwzj6

https://wolfram.com/xid/0fq789bx2ax2g-pppbg1

Wolfram Research (2015), ListDensityPlot3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html (updated 2025).
Text
Wolfram Research (2015), ListDensityPlot3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html (updated 2025).
Wolfram Research (2015), ListDensityPlot3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html (updated 2025).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2015. "ListDensityPlot3D." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2025. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html.
Wolfram Language. 2015. "ListDensityPlot3D." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2025. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2015). ListDensityPlot3D. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html
Wolfram Language. (2015). ListDensityPlot3D. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_listdensityplot3d, author="Wolfram Research", title="{ListDensityPlot3D}", year="2025", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html}", note=[Accessed: 21-April-2025
]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_listdensityplot3d, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={ListDensityPlot3D}, year={2025}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListDensityPlot3D.html}, note=[Accessed: 21-April-2025
]}