samples

Function plots are constructed by sampling the function at a given number of x values and drawing line segments to connect the values f(x0)..f(x1)..f(x2)... The default sampling rate for functions, or for interpolating data, may be changed by the set samples command. To change the sampling range for a particular component of a plot or splot command, see plot sampling.

Syntax:

      set samples <samples_1> {,<samples_2>}
      show samples

By default, sampling is set to 100 points. A higher sampling rate will produce more accurate plots, but will take longer. This parameter has no effect on data file plotting unless one of the interpolation/approximation options is used. See plot smooth, set cntrparam and set dgrid3d.

When a 2D graph is being done, only the value of <samples_1> is relevant.

When a surface plot is being done without the removal of hidden lines, the value of samples specifies the number of samples that are to be evaluated for the isolines. Each iso-v line will have <sample_1> samples and each iso-u line will have <sample_2> samples. If you only specify <samples_1>, <samples_2> will be set equal to <samples_1>. See also set isosamples.