Error when "import matplotlib.pyplot as plt"

Question

I did not have any problem to use "plt", but it suddenly shows an error message and does not work, when I import it. Please see the below.

>>> import matplotlib
>>> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

Output:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/matplotlib/pyplot.py", line 6, in <module>
    from matplotlib.figure import Figure, figaspect
 File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/matplotlib/figure.py", line 18, in <module>
   from axes import Axes, SubplotBase, subplot_class_factory
 File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/matplotlib/axes.py", line 2, in <module>
   import math, sys, warnings, datetime, new
 File "new.py", line 12, in <module>
   import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'pyplot'

This package is suddenly corrupted. So, I tried to install as below. I use Ubuntu.

In [1]: sudo apt-get install python-matplotlib
  File "<ipython-input-1-2400ac877ebd>", line 1
    sudo apt-get install python-matplotlib
   ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

If I need to reinstall, what are the detailed instructions on how to do it?

I am very new to Python. So, my problem might be too simple to be solved. But I cannot.

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-23 22:35:05Z

8

Try to type sudo apt-get install python-matplotlib in a terminal. In your message you typed it in the IPython console. This is a Bash command, not a Python one.

You need to quit IPython before. For that use Ctrl + D.

edited Nov 23, 2022 at 22:35

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 19, 2014 at 8:51

Fritzip

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Comments

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-23 22:43:04Z

5

I have this problem before.

What the conditions of mine is that I have install multiple versions of Python and NumPy in my OS. That's why the Python interpreter can't find the right NumPy to support the Matplotlib library.

The method I chose to solve this problem was modifying the $PYTHONPATH variable by editing the file .bashrc in my home path.

Change the order of the Python install path as shown, like putting the path "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages" in the front of the $PYTHONPATH.

edited Nov 23, 2022 at 22:43

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 11, 2015 at 3:54

Brook Wong

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Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-23 22:51:26Z

3

The correct answer to resolve this issue was found at Pylance reports that the import "matplotlib.pyplot" could not be resolved from source via a comment by jakebailey.

He says, "Did you install matplotlib into the environment while VS Code was running? If you reload, does this message go away?"

Visual Studio Code doesn't refresh anything. So, after you install anything via pip or pip3, it is a good idea to:

Save your work.
Close Visual Studio Code.
Restart Visual Studio Code.

This fixed it for me.

edited Nov 23, 2022 at 22:51

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 17, 2021 at 21:24

stdntuvmath

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Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-23 22:45:32Z

1

Something is wrong with Tkinter I guess. Try adding

import matplotlib as mpl

mpl.use('TkAgg')

in the front of import matplotlib.pyplot as plt.

edited Nov 23, 2022 at 22:45

Peter Mortensen

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answered Nov 19, 2018 at 7:47

Chen Zhang

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2 Comments

Peter Mortensen Over a year ago

Why has Tkinter anything to do with it?

Peter Mortensen Over a year ago

OK, the OP has left the building: "Last seen more than 3 years ago" Perhaps somebody else can chime it?

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-23 22:49:05Z

1

Try to do this:

python3 -m pip install matplotlib

edited Nov 23, 2022 at 22:49

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 16, 2021 at 7:13

Suvra

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2 Comments

Peter Mortensen Over a year ago

Re "Try to do this": Why? What is it supposed to accomplish?

Azhar Khan Over a year ago

Please consider adding some explanation to the command explaining how it solves the problem.

Bouaziz Ait-Driss · Accepted Answer · 2023-03-14 18:06:26Z

1

I had the same problem using python through Spyder. Installing packages while the IDE is open do not make them updated in the environments even if you restart the kernel from the IDE. So the safest and sure option is to close the IDE (in my case spyder) and then restart. That has solved my issues.

answered Mar 14, 2023 at 18:06

Bouaziz Ait-Driss

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Comments

Hasan Uddin · Accepted Answer · 2025-01-07 10:52:14Z

1

Run your project in python virtual environment

Manual Approach
- Open Terminal/CMD
  
  cd your_project_dir
  python -m venv .venv
- Now each time you have to activate the environment
  
  .venv\Scripts\activate
- Now install all the desired lib/packages (eg.)
  
  pip install matplotlib numpy scikit-image
In VS Code
- Requirements
  - python
  - python Debugger
- Open Terminal, and run this
  
  python -m venv .venv
- wait for a minute
- Kill the terminal and Open a new one
- Now install all the desired lib/packages (eg.)
  
  pip install matplotlib numpy scikit-image
Screenshots

edited Jan 7 at 10:52

answered Dec 4, 2024 at 13:59

Hasan Uddin

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Comments

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-23 22:48:48Z

0

For terminal:

If you are using Python 2, then write this:

pip install matplotlib

If you are using Python 3, then write this:

pip3 install matplotlib

edited Nov 23, 2022 at 22:48

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 26, 2020 at 5:18

Sudhs

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