Feature request: plotting the NA info in the legend when using scales with na.value=

[courtiol]

Many scales offer the possibility to flag NAs with a particular colour on the plot but not in the legend.
For example, here in a map we flag missing values in orange but the orange is not shown in the guide at the right of the plot:

library(tidyverse)
library(rnaturalearth)
world_sf <- ne_countries(scale = "medium", returnclass = "sf")

ggplot() +
  geom_sf(mapping = aes(fill = lastcensus), data = world_sf) +
  scale_fill_fermenter(palette = 2, na.value = "orange")

^{Created on 2021-07-29 by the reprex package (v2.0.0)}

AFAWK there is no direct way for the user to add the missing information. Of course, one can think of various hacks to do such thing but as the argument na.value is readily available, users may expect/wish to see that handled automatically.

Ideally, one could decide to add the NA colour on top or bottom (when vertical, left/right when horizontal) of the existing scale and one could also change the label associated with NA in the legend.

[Joint post with @LiamDBailey]

[thomasp85]

I agree that this is a limitation with the current guide system.

[davidhodge931]

In general with a numeric colour scale, a NA value does not show up in the legend - and ideally should if it is plotted

library(palmerpenguins)
library(tidyverse)

penguins |>
  ggplot() +
  geom_point(
    aes(x = flipper_length_mm, 
        y = body_mass_g,
        col = bill_length_mm)) +
  scale_colour_gradientn(colors = viridis::rocket(9), limits = c(40, 50))
#> Warning: Removed 2 rows containing missing values or values outside the scale range
#> (`geom_point()`).

^{Created on 2024-03-06 with reprex v2.1.0}