Complex Subplot Layouts

Sometimes you need subplots of different sizes or irregular arrangements. Matplotlib's GridSpec gives you complete control over subplot layout.

GridSpec Basics

Spanning Multiple Rows and Columns

Unequal Column Widths

Unequal Row Heights

Inset Axes

Add a smaller plot inside a larger one:

Dashboard Layout

Practice: Create a Report Layout

Key Takeaways

• GridSpec provides flexible control over subplot layouts
• Use slicing notation (gs[0:2, 0:2]) to span multiple cells
• width_ratios and height_ratios create unequal column/row sizes
• Inset axes add zoom views or supplementary information
• Complex dashboards combine KPIs, main charts, and supporting visuals
• Always use plt.tight_layout() to prevent overlapping

In the next module, we'll learn to customize plots with colors, labels, and legends.