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```{code-cell} ipython3
:tags: [remove-cell]

%matplotlib inline
```

# Markers, line style and colour

The optional, third argument `fmt` of the {{plt_plot}} function defines optional markers, line styles and line colours. This argument is a string composed of these characters:

## Marker

- `.` dot
- `o` round
- `x` cross (x)
- `+` cross (+)
- `^` triangle
- `d` diamond
- `s` square

By default, no marker is plotted.

## Line style

- `-` full line
- `--` dashed line
- `-.` dash-dotted line
- `:` dotted line

Default is a full line, unless a marker has been set, in which case the default is no line.

## Colour

- `r` red
- `g` green
- `b` blue
- `c` cyan
- `m` magenta
- `y` dark yellow
- `w` white
- `k` black

Default is the next colour in the current colour cycle.

Here are some examples:

```{code-cell} ipython3
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

y = [0.0, 1.0, -1.0, 2.0, 0.5, 0.0]

plt.subplot(2, 2, 1)
plt.plot(y, ".-r")
plt.title("dot markers, full line, red")

plt.subplot(2, 2, 2)
plt.plot(y, "--g")
plt.title("no marker, dashed line, green")

plt.subplot(2, 2, 3)
plt.plot(y, "s-.b")
plt.title("square markers, dash-dotted line, blue")

plt.subplot(2, 2, 4)
plt.plot(y, "oc")
plt.title("round markers, no line, cyan")

plt.tight_layout()
```