ScalingFunctions

ScalingFunctions

is an option for ListPlot, BarChart, Histogram, and other plotting functions that specifies what scaling functions should be used.

Details

  • Scaling functions transform the appearance of elements in plots and charts.
  • The values shown on frames and axes in a plot are specially chosen based on the scaling functions.
  • Scaling functions are used to display coordinates in a way that makes it easier to see features or behaviors in a plot.
  • Axes and other labels are typically shown using the original, unscaled values so they can be read directly, without need for further rescaling. The specific values shown depend on the scaling function and may not be linearly spaced.
  • Possible settings for ScalingFunctions include:
  • Noneno scaling function
    "name"use a named scaling function
    {f,f-1}use the scaling function f and its inverse f-1
    {s1,s2,…}use scaling function specification si for direction i
  • Named log scales that show rapid growth or decay include:
  • "Log"log scale with automatic tick labeling
    "Log2"base-2 log scale with powers of 2 for ticks
    "Log10"base-10 log scale with powers of 10 for ticks
    "SignedLog"log-like scale that includes 0 and negative numbers
    {"SignedLog",α}signed log scale with offset α around 0
  • Special named scales include:
  • "Date"default date scale with date ticks
    "Time"time scale with time ticks
    "Reverse"reverse the coordinate direction
    "Reciprocal"use reciprocal scaling
  • Categorical scales include:
  • NominalScale[…]identify items
    OrdinalScale[…]rank ordered items
  • Named infinite scales that show asymptotic behavior by compressing infinite ranges into finite ranges include:
  • "Infinite"default infinite scale
    {"Infinite",interval}infinite scale focused on interval
  • Infinite scales are automatically used when plotting over infinite domains.
  • Options are specified using the original coordinates and are automatically processed by the scaling functions.
  • Ticks, GridLines, etc. indicate unscaled values but at a scaled location.
  • With ScalingFunctions->"Log", CandlestickChart, RenkoChart, and other financial visualization functions plot the prices on a log scale.

Examples

Basic Examples  (6)

Show a function with log-scaled values:

Use a reversed axis:

Show a BarChart with log-scaled heights:

Generate a Histogram on log-log scales:

Plot data on reversed axes:

Generate a BubbleChart with the axis reversed and the axis on a Weibull probability scale:

Wolfram Research (2010), ScalingFunctions, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ScalingFunctions.html (updated 2025).

Text

Wolfram Research (2010), ScalingFunctions, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ScalingFunctions.html (updated 2025).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2010. "ScalingFunctions." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2025. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ScalingFunctions.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2010). ScalingFunctions. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ScalingFunctions.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_scalingfunctions, author="Wolfram Research", title="{ScalingFunctions}", year="2025", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ScalingFunctions.html}", note=[Accessed: 08-July-2025 ]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_scalingfunctions, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={ScalingFunctions}, year={2025}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ScalingFunctions.html}, note=[Accessed: 08-July-2025 ]}