Difference between "axes" and "axis" in matplotlib?

Question

I'm confused about what the different between axes and axis is in matplotlib. Could someone please explain in an easy-to-understand way?

score 119 · Answer 1 · edited Feb 25 '18 at 16:22

119

This figure from the documentation will answer your question:

You can find this image here (in the Matplotlib 1.x docs); it's actually been replaced in the Matplotlib 2.x docs.

edited Feb 25 '18 at 16:22

Brad Solomon

answered Oct 21 '15 at 15:22

Heberto Mayorquin

3

There is an equivalent image in current documentation, which many other concepts explained: https://matplotlib.org/stable/tutorials/introductory/usage.html#parts-of-a-figure – abu Jan 28 '22 at 20:22
Thanks for the update. I think that the old figure is more on point for the relevant question here. – Heberto Mayorquin Mar 13 '22 at 07:33
Yes, I agree. I decided to provide the new link just in case the old one stops working. But the old figure is **much better** to ilustrate the axes/axis difference. – abu Mar 13 '22 at 19:44

score 71 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 07 '11 at 03:05

71

Axis is the axis of the plot, the thing that gets ticks and tick labels. The axes is the area your plot appears in.

answered Apr 07 '11 at 03:05

Bernhard

15

Is one supposed to get less confused or more confused with this? You say "the **axis** of the plot, the **thing** that ..." as if there's a single axis, a single "thing"!! – Apostolos May 30 '18 at 15:51

score 15 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 04 '19 at 16:01

15

in the context of matplotlib,

axes is not the plural form of axis, it actually denotes the plotting area, including all axis.

answered Apr 04 '19 at 16:01

JLi

22

This was a horrible design decision. – eric Mar 05 '21 at 22:29
I also feel it confusing, especially axes is just plural form of axis in English. – Wei Shan Lee Nov 08 '22 at 02:29

3 Answers3