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timhoffm commented Jan 14, 2026 •

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since 3.10 we have the official API matplotlib.get_backend (auto_select=False). No problems have been reported and matplotlib-inline is using it. Therefore, I remove the provisional status from the auto-select flag.

Additionally, I deprecate the API rcParams._get('backend'), which the above is replacing.

It seems that rcParams._get("backend") is not used anywhere publically, but let's still be defensive and deprecate.

https://github.com/search?q=%2F%5C._get%5C%28%5B%22%27%5Dbackend%5B%22%27%5D%5C%29%2F+language%3APython+NOT+is%3Afork+NOT+path%3A**%2Fmatplotlib%2F**+NOT+path%3A**%2Fsite-packages**+NOT+path%3A**%2Fpyplot.py&type=code

This is working towards removal of dynamic backend state from rcParams #26406.
Follow-up to #29039.

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timhoffm force-pushed the deprecate-_get_backend branch from f343d24 to 7e92025 Compare

January 14, 2026 09:42

timhoffm added this to the v3.11.0 milestone

Jan 14, 2026


          MNT: Deprecate rcParams._get("backend")

fc8fb3a

since 3.10 we have the official API `matplotlib.get_backend
(auto_select=False)`. No problems have been reported and
matplotlib-inline is using it https://github
.com/ipython/matplotlib-inline/pull/38. Therefore, I remove the
provisional status from the auto-select flag.

Additionally, I deprecate the API rcParams._get('backend'), which the
above is replacing.

It seems that `rcParams._get("backend")` is not used anywhere
publically, but let's still be defensive and deprecate.

https://github.com/search?q=%2F%5C._get%5C%28%5B%22%27%5Dbackend%5B%22%27%5D%5C%29%2F+language%3APython+NOT+is%3Afork+NOT+path%3A**%2Fmatplotlib%2F**+NOT+path%3A**%2Fsite-packages**+NOT+path%3A**%2Fpyplot.py&type=code

This is working towards matplotlib#26406.
Follow-up to matplotlib#29039.

timhoffm force-pushed the deprecate-_get_backend branch from 7e92025 to fc8fb3a Compare

January 14, 2026 12:22

timhoffm marked this pull request as draft

January 14, 2026 13:23

timhoffm commented Jan 14, 2026

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Still need to filter the deprecation warnings for internal use.

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QuLogic reviewed

Jan 15, 2026

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lib/matplotlib/__init__.py

Comment on lines +716 to +720

		_api.warn_deprecated(
		"rcParams._get('backend') is deprecated since Matplotlib 3.11. "
		"Use matplotlib.get_backend(auto_select=False) instead, which is "
		"available since Matplotlib 3.10.",
		)

QuLogic Jan 15, 2026

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The first arg is since, not the full message.

Suggested change

	_api.warn_deprecated(
	"rcParams._get('backend') is deprecated since Matplotlib 3.11. "
	"Use matplotlib.get_backend(auto_select=False) instead, which is "
	"available since Matplotlib 3.10.",
	)
	_api.warn_deprecated(
	"3.11",
	name="rcParams._get('backend')",
	addendum="Use matplotlib.get_backend(auto_select=False) instead, which is "
	"available since Matplotlib 3.10.",
	)

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QuLogic Apr 25, 2026

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Please bump to 3.12 as well.

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QuLogic reviewed

Jan 15, 2026

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lib/matplotlib/__init__.py

		"Use matplotlib.get_backend(auto_select=False) instead, which is "
		"available since Matplotlib 3.10.",
		)
		# TODO: When removing this, also remove the suppression context in

QuLogic Jan 15, 2026

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What is "this"? The comment is in an odd spot to decide if it's the if, the warning, or the whole method.

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melissawm added API: changes

Changes to the public API, typically requiring deprecation.

Maintenance labels

Jan 21, 2026

QuLogic modified the milestones: v3.11.0, v3.12.0

Mar 6, 2026

timhoffm mentioned this pull request

May 31, 2026

[MNT]: Remove backend state handling from rcParams #31791

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timhoffm commented May 31, 2026

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Deprecation is too complicated as long as we also need to use the API internally. Trying to silence deprecation warnings on internal usage turned out to be a deep rabbit hole. Closing in favor of #31791

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timhoffm closed this

May 31, 2026

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timhoffm commented Jan 14, 2026 •

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