matplotlib.axes.Axes.tick_params

Axes.tick_params(axis='both', **kwargs)[source]

Change the appearance of ticks, tick labels, and gridlines.

Tick properties that are not explicitly set using the keyword arguments remain unchanged unless reset is True.

Parameters

axis{'x', 'y', 'both'}, default: 'both': The axis to which the parameters are applied.
which{'major', 'minor', 'both'}, default: 'major': The group of ticks to which the parameters are applied.
resetbool, default: False: Whether to reset the ticks to defaults before updating them.

Other Parameters

direction{'in', 'out', 'inout'}: Puts ticks inside the axes, outside the axes, or both.
lengthfloat: Tick length in points.
widthfloat: Tick width in points.
colorcolor: Tick color.
padfloat: Distance in points between tick and label.
labelsizefloat or str: Tick label font size in points or as a string (e.g., 'large').
labelcolorcolor: Tick label color.
colorscolor: Tick color and label color.
zorderfloat: Tick and label zorder.
bottom, top, left, rightbool: Whether to draw the respective ticks.
labelbottom, labeltop, labelleft, labelrightbool: Whether to draw the respective tick labels.
labelrotationfloat: Tick label rotation
grid_colorcolor: Gridline color.
grid_alphafloat: Transparency of gridlines: 0 (transparent) to 1 (opaque).
grid_linewidthfloat: Width of gridlines in points.
grid_linestylestr: Any valid Line2D line style spec.

Examples

ax.tick_params(direction='out', length=6, width=2, colors='r',
               grid_color='r', grid_alpha=0.5)

This will make all major ticks be red, pointing out of the box, and with dimensions 6 points by 2 points. Tick labels will also be red. Gridlines will be red and translucent.