Lets make a demo 2d array:
In [19]: x = np.arange(12).reshape(3,4)
In [20]: x
Out[20]:
array([[ 0, 1, 2, 3],
[ 4, 5, 6, 7],
[ 8, 9, 10, 11]])
And apply the base Python sum function (which isn't the same as numpy's own):
In [21]: sum(x)
Out[21]: array([12, 15, 18, 21])
The result is a (4,) shape array (not 4x1). Print sum(x).shape if you don't believe me.
The numpy.sum function adds all terms if no axis is given:
In [22]: np.sum(x)
Out[22]: 66
or with axis:
In [23]: np.sum(x, axis=0)
Out[23]: array([12, 15, 18, 21])
In [24]: np.sum(x, axis=1)
Out[24]: array([ 6, 22, 38])
The Python sum treats x as a list of arrays, and adds them together
In [25]: list(x)
Out[25]: [array([0, 1, 2, 3]), array([4, 5, 6, 7]), array([ 8, 9, 10, 11])]
In [28]: x[0]+x[1]+x[2]
Out[28]: array([12, 15, 18, 21])
Transpose, without parameter, switch axes. It does not add any dimensions:
In [29]: x.T # (4,3) shape
Out[29]:
array([[ 0, 4, 8],
[ 1, 5, 9],
[ 2, 6, 10],
[ 3, 7, 11]])
In [30]: sum(x).T
Out[30]: array([12, 15, 18, 21]) # still (4,) shape
Octave
>> x=reshape(0:11,4,3)'
x =
0 1 2 3
4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11
>> sum(x)
ans =
12 15 18 21
>> sum(x,1)
ans =
12 15 18 21
>> sum(x,2)
ans =
6
22
38
edit
The np.sum function has a keepdims parmeter:
In [32]: np.sum(x, axis=0, keepdims=True)
Out[32]: array([[12, 15, 18, 21]]) # (1,4) shape
In [33]: np.sum(x, axis=1, keepdims=True)
Out[33]:
array([[ 6], # (3,1) shape
[22],
[38]])
If I reshape the array to 3d, and sum, the result is 2d - unless I keepdims:
In [34]: np.sum(x.reshape(3,2,2), axis=0).shape
Out[34]: (2, 2)
In [36]: np.sum(x.reshape(3,2,2), axis=0,keepdims=True).shape
Out[36]: (1, 2, 2)
MATLAB/Octave on the other hand keeps the dims by default:
sum(reshape(x,3,2,2)) # (1,2,2)
unless I sum on that last, 3rd:
sum(reshape(x,3,2,2),3) # (3,2)
The key is that MATLAB everything is 2d, with the option of additional trailing dimensions, which aren't handled the same way. In numpy every number of dimensions, from 0 on up is handled the same way.