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

66
votes

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

3
pythonmatplotlib

3 Answers

64
votes

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

97
votes

This figure from the documentation will answer your question:

enter image description here

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

12
votes

in the context of matplotlib,

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