How to set x axis ticklabels in a seaborn plot

Question

I am unable to set x axis ticklabels for a seaborn lineplot correctly.

import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
import seaborn as sns
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

df = pd.DataFrame({'a':np.random.rand(8),'b':np.random.rand(8)})
sns.set(style="darkgrid")
g = sns.lineplot(data=df)
g.set_xticklabels(['2011','2012','2013','2014','2015','2016','2017','2018'])

The years on the x axis are not aligning properly.

score 41 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 15 '19 at 12:11

41

Whenever you set the x-ticklabels manually, you should try to first set the corresponding ticks, and then specify the labels. In your case, therefore you should do

g = sns.lineplot(data=df)
g.set_xticks(range(len(df))) # <--- set the ticks first
g.set_xticklabels(['2011','2012','2013','2014','2015','2016','2017','2018'])

answered Jun 15 '19 at 12:11

Sheldore

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Is it possible to do this by specifying intended interval instead of enumerating the desired x ticks? – Nuclear03020704 Oct 11 '21 at 00:29

score 24 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 08 '21 at 09:34

As of matplotlib 3.5.0

set_xticklabels is now discouraged:

The use of this method is discouraged because of the dependency on tick positions. In most cases, you'll want to use set_xticks(positions, labels) instead.

Now set_xticks includes a new labels param to set ticks and labels simultaneously:

ax = sns.lineplot(data=df)
ax.set_xticks(range(len(df)), labels=range(2011, 2019))
#                             ^^^^^^

How to set x axis ticklabels in a seaborn plot

2 Answers2

As of matplotlib 3.5.0

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