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To add text at a point in a Matplotlib 3D plot, call ax.text(x, y, z, "label") on the 3D axes object. The three coordinates are in data units. For a note that should stay in a fixed corner instead, use ax.text2D() with the axes transform.
Add text at a 3D data point
Create a 3D axes, then pass its x, y and z position followed by the text string to ax.text():
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(projection="3d")
ax.scatter([1], [2], [3], color="navy")
ax.text(1, 2, 3, "point A", color="crimson")
ax.set_xlabel("X")
ax.set_ylabel("Y")
ax.set_zlabel("Z")
plt.show()Here, (1, 2, 3) identifies the text position in the plot’s data coordinates. The 3D axes method returns a text artist, and accepts standard text styling options such as color and fontsize. See Matplotlib’s 3D text annotation example and Axes3D text API reference.
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Choose between data-positioned and axes-positioned text
The right method depends on whether the text belongs to a 3D location or should remain in a consistent screen-relative position:
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| Need | Method | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Label a location in the 3D scene | ax.text(x, y, z, s) |
3D data coordinates |
| Keep a note at a relative position within the axes | ax.text2D(x, y, s, transform=ax.transAxes) |
2D axes-relative coordinates |
Keep an explanatory note in a corner
For a label such as a run name or brief note that should not be attached to a plotted point, use text2D():
ax.text2D(0.05, 0.95, "Run 12", transform=ax.transAxes)With ax.transAxes, (0, 0) is the lower-left of the axes and (1, 1) is the upper-right. Values such as (0.05, 0.95) place text near the upper-left.
Control the direction of 3D text
Use the zdir argument when the text should be oriented relative to a chosen direction. The gallery documents axis names such as "x", "y", and "z", as well as three-component direction tuples such as (1, 1, 0). For ordinary point labels, leave the default orientation. Because Matplotlib projects the 3D scene onto a 2D view, the text’s apparent position and overlap can change as the camera view changes. The official example shows the available direction forms.
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Avoid common 3D text mistakes
- Use the axes method, not
plt.text(). Matplotlib’s pyplot text functions use 2D signatures; callax.text()on the 3D axes to provide the extra coordinate. See the mplot3d toolkit overview. - Pass arguments in the right order. Use
ax.text(x, y, z, "label"): the full coordinate triple comes before the string. - Choose the coordinate system deliberately. Use
text2D()for a fixed axes-relative note, not for a label anchored to a 3D data position. - Account for the viewing angle. If a label overlaps plotted data or becomes difficult to read, adjust its coordinates, camera view, or styling; for a non-data note, use axes-relative text.
Clip text beyond the view limits (Matplotlib 3.10 and later)
The axlim_clip argument is documented as added in Matplotlib 3.10. It defaults to False; set it to True to hide text outside the axes’ view limits:
ax.text(x, y, z, "label", axlim_clip=True)Use this option only with Matplotlib 3.10 or later. The version requirement and default are listed in the text API reference.
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