DOC: setting active axes position is ineffective

rcomer · rcomer · commit 046870140d8c · 2026-03-16T13:13:56.000Z
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -1175,6 +1175,13 @@ def set_position(self, pos, which='both'):
         which : {'both', 'active', 'original'}, default: 'both'
             Determines which position variables to change.
 
+            .. note::
+                For native Matplotlib `.Axes`, the active position is
+                determined by a combination of the original position and the
+                aspect ratio.  Setting the active position directly is
+                therefore not effective.  This option is retained as it may be
+                relevant for some third party `.Axes` subclasses.
+
         See Also
         --------
         matplotlib.transforms.Bbox.from_bounds
