# legend

## Purpose

Add legend to plot.

## Synopsis

    legend('string1','string2',...)
    legend('linetype1','string1','linetype2','string2',...)
    legend(h,...)
    legend(...,tol)
    legend(M)
    legend(hl,M)
    legend(...)
    legend off

## Description

`legend('string1','string2',...)` adds a legend box to the plot in the current figure, using the specified strings as labels. It shows a sample of the linestyle used for each plot line, obtaining this information from the plot.

`legend('linetype1','string1','linetype2','string2',...)` uses the specified `linetype` for each string, instead of obtaining the `linetype` from the plot. Each `linetype` must be a valid line style string as for the `plot` function.

`legend(h,...)` associates the handle `h` with the legend box.

`legend(...,tol)` uses the specified tolerance `tol` in placing the legend box:

- If the legend box would cover `tol` or more points if placed inside the plot, `legend` places it outside the plot.
- If `tol = -1`, the legend box is outside the plot.
- If `tol = 0`, the legend box is inside the plot if there is any location where no data points are covered; otherwise, the legend box is outside the plot.
  `legend(M)`, where `M` is a matrix of text strings, adds a legend box containing the rows of `M` as labels.

  `legend(hl,M)`, where `hl` is a vector of line handles, associates each row of `M` with the corresponding line.

  `h = legend(...)` returns a handle to the legend box axes.

  `legend off` removes the legend box from the current axes.

  To move a legend box, hold down the left mouse button and drag the box to a new location.

  ## Examples

  Add a legend to a simple plot.

      x1 = 1:10; y1 = 2:2:20;
      x2 = 1:10; y2 = sqrt(x2);
      plot(x1,y1,'+',x2,y2,'*')
      legend('Function 1','Function 2')

  ``To prevent grid or plot lines from obscuring the legend, make the legend the current axes before printing:

      h = legend(...)
      axes(h)

  When the legend box is the current axes, the figure window is not redrawn. To force a redraw, use the `refresh` command.

  ## See Also

      plot, refresh

  (c) Copyright 1994 by The MathWorks, Inc.