CHAPTER 12
Beginner
Subplots and Multi-Chart Layouts
Updated: May 18, 2026
5 min read
# CHAPTER 12
Subplots and Multi-Chart Layouts
1. Chapter Introduction
Professional dashboards rarely show one chart. This chapter creates multi-panel layouts — from simple 2x2 grids to complex irregular layouts using GridSpec — producing print-ready analytics dashboards.2. plt.subplots — Basic Grid
python
3. GridSpec — Irregular Layouts
python
4. Common Mistakes
-
Not calling
tightlayout(): Multi-chart layouts almost always need it to prevent overlap.
- Too many charts per figure: More than 6-8 panels on one figure becomes hard to read. Split into multiple figures.
5. MCQs
Question 1
plt.subplots(2,3) creates?
Question 2
gridspec.GridSpec(3, 3) enables?
Question 3
gs[0, :] in GridSpec means?
Question 4
sharex=True in subplots?
Question 5
hspace=0.4 in GridSpec controls?
Question 6
Recommended max panels per figure?
Question 7
ax.axis('off') does?
Question 8
bboxinches='tight' in savefig?
Question 9
fig.addsubplot(gs[1, 2]) places chart at?
Question 10
KPI number cards in dashboards are best placed?
6. Interview Questions
- Q: How do you create a full-width chart in a GridSpec layout?
-
Q: What is the difference between
plt.subplots()andGridSpec?
7. Summary
plt.subplots(m,n) creates uniform grids. GridSpec creates complex irregular layouts with cell spanning. KPI number cards provide quick summary before detail charts. Always tightlayout() and bbox_inches='tight' for clean multi-panel exports. Keep panels ≤8 per figure for readability.