matplotlib · tacaswell · May 14, 2021 · Apr 22, 2021
diff --git a/doc/users/next_whats_new/set_ticks_labels.rst b/doc/users/next_whats_new/set_ticks_labels.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+Settings tick positions and labels simultaneously in ``set_ticks``
+------------------------------------------------------------------
+`.Axis.set_ticks` (and the corresponding `.Axes.set_xticks` /
+`.Axes.set_yticks`) got a new parameter *labels* allowing to set tick positions
+and labels simultaneously.
+
+Previously, setting tick labels was done using `.Axis.set_ticklabels` (or
+the corresponding `.Axes.set_xticklabels` / `.Axes.set_yticklabels`). This
+usually only makes sense if you previously fix the position with
+`~.Axis.set_ticks`. Both functionality is now available in `~.Axis.set_ticks`.
+The use of `.Axis.set_ticklabels` is discouraged, but it will stay available
+for backward compatibility.
+
+Note: This addition makes the API of `~.Axis.set_ticks` also more similar to
+`.pyplot.xticks` / `.pyplot.yticks`, which already had the additional *labels*
+parameter.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_secondary_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_secondary_axes.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import matplotlib.docstring as docstring
 import matplotlib.ticker as mticker
 from matplotlib.axes._base import _AxesBase, _TransformedBoundsLocator
+from matplotlib.axis import Axis
 
 
 class SecondaryAxis(_AxesBase):
@@ -123,18 +124,9 @@ def apply_aspect(self, position=None):
         self._set_lims()
         super().apply_aspect(position)
 
-    def set_ticks(self, ticks, *, minor=False):
-        """
-        Set the x ticks with list of *ticks*
-
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        ticks : list
-            List of x-axis tick locations.
-        minor : bool, default: False
-            If ``False`` sets major ticks, if ``True`` sets minor ticks.
-        """
-        ret = self._axis.set_ticks(ticks, minor=minor)
+    @docstring.copy(Axis.set_ticks)
+    def set_ticks(self, ticks, labels=None, *, minor=False, **kwargs):
+        ret = self._axis.set_ticks(ticks, labels, minor=minor, **kwargs)
         self.stale = True
         self._ticks_set = True
         return ret

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axis.py b/lib/matplotlib/axis.py
@@ -1661,10 +1661,16 @@ def set_ticklabels(self, ticklabels, *, minor=False, **kwargs):
         r"""
         Set the text values of the tick labels.
 
-        .. warning::
-            This method should only be used after fixing the tick positions
-            using `.Axis.set_ticks`. Otherwise, the labels may end up in
-            unexpected positions.
+        .. admonition:: Discouraged
+
+            The use of this method is discouraged, because of the dependency
+            on tick positions. In most cases, you'll want to use
+            ``set_[x/y]ticks(positions, labels)`` instead.
+
+            If you are using this method, you should always fix the tick
+            positions before, e.g. by using `.Axis.set_ticks` or by explicitly
+            setting a `~.ticker.FixedLocator`. Otherwise, ticks are free to
+            move and the labels may end up in unexpected positions.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
@@ -1772,27 +1778,9 @@ def _set_ticklabels(self, labels, fontdict=None, minor=False, **kwargs):
             kwargs.update(fontdict)
         return self.set_ticklabels(labels, minor=minor, **kwargs)
 
-    def set_ticks(self, ticks, *, minor=False):
-        """
-        Set this Axis' tick locations.
-
-        If necessary, the view limits of the Axis are expanded so that all
-        given ticks are visible.
+    def _set_tick_locations(self, ticks, *, minor=False):
+        # see docstring of set_ticks
 
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        ticks : list of floats
-            List of tick locations.
-        minor : bool, default: False
-            If ``False``, set the major ticks; if ``True``, the minor ticks.
-
-        Notes
-        -----
-        The mandatory expansion of the view limits is an intentional design
-        choice to prevent the surprise of a non-visible tick. If you need
-        other limits, you should set the limits explicitly after setting the
-        ticks.
-        """
         # XXX if the user changes units, the information will be lost here
         ticks = self.convert_units(ticks)
         if self is self.axes.xaxis:
@@ -1827,6 +1815,37 @@ def set_ticks(self, ticks, *, minor=False):
             self.set_major_locator(mticker.FixedLocator(ticks))
             return self.get_major_ticks(len(ticks))
 
+    def set_ticks(self, ticks, labels=None, *, minor=False, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Set this Axis' tick locations and optionally labels.
+
+        If necessary, the view limits of the Axis are expanded so that all
+        given ticks are visible.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ticks : list of floats
+            List of tick locations.
+        labels : list of str, optional
+            List of tick labels. If not set, the labels show the data value.
+        minor : bool, default: False
+            If ``False``, set the major ticks; if ``True``, the minor ticks.
+        **kwargs
+            `.Text` properties for the labels. These take effect only if you
+            pass *labels*. In other cases, please use `~.Axes.tick_params`.
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        The mandatory expansion of the view limits is an intentional design
+        choice to prevent the surprise of a non-visible tick. If you need
+        other limits, you should set the limits explicitly after setting the
+        ticks.
+        """
+        result = self._set_tick_locations(ticks, minor=minor)
+        if labels is not None:
+            self.set_ticklabels(labels, minor=minor, **kwargs)
+        return result
+
     def _get_tick_boxes_siblings(self, renderer):
         """
         Get the bounding boxes for this `.axis` and its siblings

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -5107,6 +5107,28 @@ def test_set_get_ticklabels():
     ax[1].set_yticklabels(ax[0].get_yticklabels())
 
 
+@check_figures_equal(extensions=["png"])
+def test_set_ticks_with_labels(fig_test, fig_ref):
+    """
+    Test that these two are identical::
+
+        set_xticks(ticks); set_xticklabels(labels, **kwargs)
+        set_xticks(ticks, labels, **kwargs)
+
+    """
+    ax = fig_ref.subplots()
+    ax.set_xticks([1, 2, 4, 6])
+    ax.set_xticklabels(['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'], fontweight='bold')
+    ax.set_yticks([1, 3, 5])
+    ax.set_yticks([2, 4], minor=True)
+    ax.set_yticklabels(['A', 'B'], minor=True)
+
+    ax = fig_test.subplots()
+    ax.set_xticks([1, 2, 4, 6], ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'], fontweight='bold')
+    ax.set_yticks([1, 3, 5])
+    ax.set_yticks([2, 4], ['A', 'B'], minor=True)
+
+
 def test_subsampled_ticklabels():
     # test issue 11937
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()