matplotlib.pyplot.imread() in Python (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 12 Jul, 2025

Matplotlib is a library in Python and it is numerical - mathematical extension for NumPy library. Pyplot is a state-based interface to a Matplotlib module which provides a MATLAB-like interface.

matplotlib.pyplot.imread() Function:

The imread() function in pyplot module of matplotlib library is used to read an image from a file into an array.

Syntax: matplotlib.pyplot.imread(fname, format=None)Parameters: This method accepts the following parameters.

• fname : This parameter is the image file to read.
• format: This parameter is the image file format assumed for reading the data. Returns: This method return the following.
• imagedata : This returns the image data

Below examples illustrate the matplotlib.pyplot.imread() function in matplotlib.pyplot:Example #1:

Python3 1== `

Implementation of matplotlib function

import numpy as np import matplotlib.cbook as cbook import matplotlib.image as image import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

with cbook.get_sample_data('loggf.png') as image_file: image = plt.imread(image_file)

fig, ax = plt.subplots() ax.imshow(image) ax.axis('off')

plt.title('matplotlib.pyplot.imread() function Example', fontweight ="bold") plt.show()

`

Output: Example #2:

Python3 1== `

Implementation of matplotlib function

import numpy as np import matplotlib.cbook as cbook import matplotlib.image as image import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

with cbook.get_sample_data('loggf.png') as file: im = image.imread(file)

fig, ax = plt.subplots()

ax.plot(np.cos(10 * np.linspace(0, 1)), '-o', ms = 15, alpha = 0.6, mfc ='green')

ax.grid() fig.figimage(im, 10, 10, zorder = 3, alpha =.5)

plt.title('matplotlib.pyplot.imread() function Example', fontweight ="bold") plt.show()

`

Output: