Basic Step Plot — Plotly

A step plot (also known as a stair plot or stepped line chart) displays data using horizontal lines connected by vertical lines, creating a stair-step pattern. Unlike line charts that interpolate between points, step plots show values as constant until the next change occurs. This makes them ideal for visualizing data that changes at discrete intervals, emphasizing the exact moments when values change.

Basic Step Plot rendered with Plotly

Python source (Plotly)

""" anyplot.ai
step-basic: Basic Step Plot
Library: plotly 6.9.0 | Python 3.13.14
Quality: 89/100 | Created: 2026-07-25
"""

import os

import numpy as np
import plotly.graph_objects as go


# Theme tokens (Imprint palette — theme-adaptive chrome)
THEME = os.getenv("ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
PAGE_BG = "#FAF8F1" if THEME == "light" else "#1A1A17"
INK = "#1A1A17" if THEME == "light" else "#F0EFE8"
INK_SOFT = "#4A4A44" if THEME == "light" else "#B8B7B0"
GRID = "rgba(26,26,23,0.15)" if THEME == "light" else "rgba(240,239,232,0.15)"
BRAND = "#009E73"  # Imprint palette position 1

# Data - Monthly cumulative sales showing discrete jumps
np.random.seed(42)
months = ["Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun", "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec"]
x = list(range(len(months)))

monthly_sales = np.random.randint(15000, 45000, size=12)
cumulative_sales = np.cumsum(monthly_sales)
year_total = int(cumulative_sales[-1])

# Plot
fig = go.Figure()

fig.add_trace(
    go.Scatter(
        x=x,
        y=cumulative_sales,
        mode="lines+markers",
        line={"shape": "hv", "color": BRAND, "width": 3},
        marker={"size": 11, "color": BRAND, "line": {"color": PAGE_BG, "width": 2}},
        fill="tozeroy",
        fillcolor="rgba(0,158,115,0.12)",
        name="Cumulative Sales",
        customdata=months,
        hovertemplate="<b>%{customdata}</b><br>Cumulative: $%{y:,.0f}<extra></extra>",
    )
)

# Year-total reference line — focal point highlighting the running total
fig.add_hline(y=year_total, line_dash="dot", line_color=INK_SOFT, line_width=1.5, opacity=0.7)
fig.add_annotation(
    x=0,
    xref="paper",
    y=year_total,
    yref="y",
    xanchor="left",
    yanchor="bottom",
    yshift=12,
    text=f"Year total ${year_total:,.0f}",
    showarrow=False,
    font={"size": 11, "color": INK_SOFT},
)

# Style
fig.update_layout(
    autosize=False,
    width=800,
    height=450,
    paper_bgcolor=PAGE_BG,
    plot_bgcolor=PAGE_BG,
    font={"color": INK},
    title={
        "text": "step-basic · python · plotly · anyplot.ai",
        "font": {"size": 16, "color": INK},
        "x": 0.5,
        "xanchor": "center",
    },
    xaxis={
        "title": {"text": "Month", "font": {"size": 12, "color": INK}},
        "tickfont": {"size": 10, "color": INK_SOFT},
        "tickmode": "array",
        "tickvals": x,
        "ticktext": months,
        "showgrid": False,
        "linecolor": INK_SOFT,
        "zeroline": False,
    },
    yaxis={
        "title": {"text": "Cumulative Sales ($)", "font": {"size": 12, "color": INK}},
        "tickfont": {"size": 10, "color": INK_SOFT},
        "showgrid": True,
        "gridcolor": GRID,
        "gridwidth": 1,
        "linecolor": INK_SOFT,
        "zeroline": False,
        "rangemode": "tozero",
    },
    showlegend=False,
    margin={"l": 90, "r": 50, "t": 90, "b": 70},
)

# Save
fig.write_image(f"plot-{THEME}.png", width=800, height=450, scale=4)
fig.write_html(f"plot-{THEME}.html", include_plotlyjs="cdn")

Part of Basic Step Plot on anyplot.ai.

Other implementations