Editing Portal:Graphics Programming (section)

=== PDL and scientific graphics ===

Scientific graphics are closely tied to Perl’s numerical-computing story. '''PDL''', the Perl Data Language, gives Perl multidimensional numerical arrays and is commonly used for scientific data analysis. Graphics modules around PDL allow numerical data to be plotted, visualized, and displayed.

`PDL::Graphics::Gnuplot` allows PDL data to be plotted using Gnuplot as a backend for 2D and 3D plotting and image display.<ref>MetaCPAN, “PDL::Graphics::Gnuplot,” https://metacpan.org/pod/PDL%3A%3AGraphics%3A%3AGnuplot, accessed July 3, 2026.</ref>

`PDL::Graphics::Simple` provides backend-independent plotting for PDL, with backends including Gnuplot, PGPLOT, PLplot, and Prima.<ref>MetaCPAN, “PDL::Graphics::Simple,” https://metacpan.org/dist/PDL-Graphics-Simple, accessed July 3, 2026.</ref>

This is an important part of Perl graphics history because it connects visualization to science. Scientists and engineers often need to inspect arrays, images, spectra, simulation results, or statistical data. Perl’s graphics role in this area is not mainly about decorative images. It is about making data visible.

PDL graphics can be used for:

* plotting numerical arrays;
* displaying images;
* visualizing simulation output;
* plotting scientific measurements;
* examining intermediate results;
* generating publication figures;
* exploring high-dimensional data;
* connecting computation to visualization.