What is the difference between add_artist or add_patch

Question

I am trying to find the difference between add_artist method and add_patch but I can't figure out.

import matplotlib
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.patches import Circle
matplotlib.use('TkAgg')

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.add_patch(Circle((0.5, 0.5), 0.3))

plt.show()

And

import matplotlib
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.patches import Circle
matplotlib.use('TkAgg')

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.add_artist(Circle((0.5, 0.5), 0.3))

plt.show()

Give the exact same behaviour... Maybe these two methods are doing the same but I am not sure ? Which one do I need to use if I want to draw something ?

Kind regards,

Spalato

add_artist isn't really intended for data, but for annotations to the data. – Moron

So it's the same thing with a different name for a different goal ? – Spalato

One difference I have come across is that add_patch changes the data limits where as add_artist does not. For example, if you increase the radius to 0.6 in your MWE, and call ax.autoscale_view() before plt.show(), then the x and y limits will be adjusted in the first plot but not in the second. – Thuthucydides

Thanks for this answer. – Spalato