Matplotlib 3.0 Cookbook

Ticklabels

Each axis (x, y, or z) will have a range of values that are divided into many equal bins. Bins are chosen at two levels. In the preceding figure Anatomy of a figure, the x axis scale ranges from 0 to 4, divided into four major bins (0-1, 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4) and each of the major bins is further divided into four minor bins (0-0.25, 0.25-0.5, and 0.5-0.75). Ticks on both sides of major bins are called major ticks and minor bins are called minor ticks, and the names given to them are major ticklabels and minor ticklabels.