# Axes | WPF Controls | DevExpress Documentation

The Chart Control uses axes to manage its coordinate space. Axes also contain elements that improve a chart’s readability. The axes’ appearance and functionality depends on the diagram type. For example, the Cartesian chart consists of two perpendicular axes for positioning pairs of arguments and values.

The following image demonstrates primary axes in [2D XY Diagram](/WPF/115312/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/diagram/2d-xy-diagram):

![WPF_ArgumentsAndValuesAxis](/WPF/images/wpf_argumentsandvaluesaxis120848.png)

The document consists of the following sections:

- Overview
- Additional Axis Elements

Note

The Chart Control can hide its elements if there is insufficient space to display them. Elements are hidden in the following order:

1. [Legends](/WPF/6343/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/legends)
2. [Axis Titles](/WPF/7096/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/axis-titles)
3. [Series Titles](/WPF/7941/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/series/series-titles)
4. [Pane Titles](/WPF/400428/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/panes/pane-titles)
5. **Axes**
6. [Chart Title](/WPF/7844/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/chart-titles)
7. [Breadcrumbs](/WPF/400717/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/provide-data/drill-down#customize-text-the-chart-displays-in-the-breadcrumb-panel)

To make the Chart Control always display its elements, disable the [ChartControl.AutoLayout](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.ChartControlBase.AutoLayout) property.

## Overview

The [AxisBase](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.AxisBase) class is the base class for all chart axis types. The **AxisBase**‘s properties and methods define the functionality that is common to all axes.

The type of arguments’ and values’ axes that are allowed depend on the [diagram type](/WPF/6333/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/diagram/diagram). For example, a [2D XY Diagram](/WPF/115312/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/diagram/2d-xy-diagram) diagram requires an arguments [AxisX2D](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.AxisX2D) axis and a values [AxisY2D](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.AxisY2D) axis; a [2D Polar Diagram](/WPF/115307/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/diagram/2d-polar-diagram) requires [PolarAxisX2D](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.PolarAxisX2D) and [PolarAxisY2D](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.PolarAxisY2D).

An axis’s measurement unit depends on the axis’s scale type: **Numeric**, **DateTime**, **TimeSpan**, and **Qualitative**. The Chart control automatically determines an axis’s scale type based on the series’s data. Scale types are available using the [Series.ArgumentScaleType](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.Series.ArgumentScaleType) and [Series.ValueScaleType](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.Series.ValueScaleType) properties. Refer to [Axis Scale Types](/WPF/115179/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/axis-scale-types) to learn more about scale types.

Axes allow you to specify ranges the data’s visible ranges. There are two types of ranges - a **whole** range manages the full data range and a **visual** range  manages the visible data range. Refer to [Whole and Visual Ranges](/WPF/115158/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/whole-and-visual-ranges) for more information.

You can add an unlimited number of supplementary (secondary) axes to a 2D XY diagram. Primary and secondary axes behave similarly. Refer to [Primary and Secondary Axes](/WPF/7845/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/primary-and-secondary-axes) to learn how to add a secondary axis to a diagram.

The following image contains a second pane with two secondary axes:

![WPF_PrimaryAndSecondaryAxes](/WPF/images/wpf_primaryandsecondaryaxes120868.png)

To show or hide a particular axis, set its [Axis2D.Visible](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.Axis2D.Visible) property. The [Axis2D.VisibilityInPanes](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.Axis2D.VisibilityInPanes) property also allows limiting axis visibility in certain [panes](/WPF/10631/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/panes/panes). Refer to the [How to: Show or Hide an Axis in a Multi-Pane Chart](/WPF/11173/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/examples/chart-elements/how-to-show-or-hide-an-axis-in-a-multi-pane-chart) document to learn how to configure axis visibility across multiple panes.

You can rotate a 2D XY diagram and show an x-axis vertically and a y-axis horizontally using the [XYDiagram2D.Rotated](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.XYDiagram2D.Rotated) property. Swapping axes does not affect the axis’s functionality (an x-axis still displays point arguments and a y-axis - point values).

| [XYDiagram2D.Rotated](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.XYDiagram2D.Rotated)= false | [XYDiagram2D.Rotated](/WPF/DevExpress.Xpf.Charts.XYDiagram2D.Rotated)= true |
| --- | --- |
| ![DiagramRotatedFalse](/WPF/images/diagramrotatedfalse123210.png) | ![DiagramRotatedTrue](/WPF/images/diagramrotatedtrue123211.png) |

It is possible to customize axis appearance, for example, modify an axis’s color or its position relative to a diagram. Refer to [Axis Layout and Appearance](/WPF/115165/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/axis-layout-and-appearance) to learn more.

## Additional Axis Elements

Each axis can include the following elements:

- [Axis labels](/WPF/6336/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/axis-labels)
- [Tickmarks](/WPF/6337/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/tickmarks-grid-lines-and-interlacing)
- [Grid lines](/WPF/6337/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/tickmarks-grid-lines-and-interlacing)
- [Interlacing](/WPF/6337/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/tickmarks-grid-lines-and-interlacing)

Cartesian axes can also include the following visual indicators:

- [Axis titles](/WPF/7096/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/axis-titles)
- [Constant lines](/WPF/7846/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/constant-lines)
- [Strips](/WPF/7848/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/strips)
- [Scale Breaks](/WPF/119192/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/scale-breaks)

The following image highlights a constant line, strip, axis title and axis label:

![WPF_AxisElements](/WPF/images/wpf_axiselements120876.png)

See Also

[Axis Scale Types](/WPF/115179/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/axis-scale-types)

[Whole and Visual Ranges](/WPF/115158/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/whole-and-visual-ranges)

[Primary and Secondary Axes](/WPF/7845/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/primary-and-secondary-axes)

[Axis Layout and Appearance](/WPF/115165/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/axes/axis-layout-and-appearance)

[How to: Show or Hide an Axis in a Multi-Pane Chart](/WPF/11173/controls-and-libraries/charts-suite/chart-control/examples/chart-elements/how-to-show-or-hide-an-axis-in-a-multi-pane-chart)