Matplotlib.artist.Artist.add_callback() in Python

Namachila October 18, 2025

0 0 1 minute read

Matplotlib is a library in Python and it is numerical – mathematical extension for NumPy library. The Artist class contains Abstract base class for objects that render into a FigureCanvas. All visible elements in a figure are subclasses of Artist.

matplotlib.artist.Artist.add_callback() method

The add_callback() method in artist module of matplotlib library is used to add a callback function that will be called whenever one of the Artist’s properties changes.

Syntax: Artist.add_callback(self, func)

Parameters: This method accepts the following parameters.

func: This parameter is the callback function.

Returns: This method returns the observer id associated with the callback.

Below examples illustrate the matplotlib.artist.Artist.add_callback() function in matplotlib:

Example 1:

# Implementation of matplotlib function 
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt 
import numpy as np 
import time 
  
   
def update(): 
    plt.get_current_fig_manager().canvas.figure.patch.set_facecolor(str(np.random.random())) 
    plt.draw() 
    print("Draw at time :", time.time()) 
       
   
def start_animation(): 
       
    timer = fig.canvas.new_timer(interval = 50) 
    timer.add_callback(update) 
    timer.start() 
   
fig = plt.figure() 
start_animation() 
         
fig.suptitle('matplotlib.artist.Artist.add_callback() \ 
function Example', fontweight ="bold")  
  
plt.show() 

Output:

Example 2:

# Implementation of matplotlib function   
from random import randint, choice  
import time  
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt  
import matplotlib.patches as mpatches  
     
     
back_color = "black"
colors = ['red', 'green', 'blue', 'purple']  
width, height = 4, 4
     
fig = plt.figure()  
plt.xlim([0, width]) 
plt.ylim([0, height])  
     
fig.canvas.draw()  
     
def update():  
    x = randint(0, width - 1)  
    y = randint(0, height - 1)  
     
    arti = mpatches.Rectangle(  
        (x, y), 1, 1,  
        facecolor = choice(colors),  
        edgecolor = back_color  
    )  
    fig.add_artist(arti) 
    fig.draw_artist(arti) 
    fig.canvas.blit(fig.bbox)  
    print("Draw at time :", time.time())  
     
timer = fig.canvas.new_timer(interval = 1)  
timer.add_callback(update)  
timer.start()  
         
fig.suptitle('matplotlib.artist.Artist.add_callback() \ 
function Example', fontweight ="bold")  
  
plt.show() 