matplotlib · QuLogic · Oct 3, 2025 · Mar 1, 2025
diff --git a/doc/release/next_whats_new/font_features.rst b/doc/release/next_whats_new/font_features.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+Specifying font feature tags
+----------------------------
+
+OpenType fonts may support feature tags that specify alternate glyph shapes or
+substitutions to be made optionally. The text API now supports setting a list of feature
+tags to be used with the associated font. Feature tags can be set/get with:
+
+- `matplotlib.text.Text.set_fontfeatures` / `matplotlib.text.Text.get_fontfeatures`
+- Any API that creates a `.Text` object by passing the *fontfeatures* argument (e.g.,
+  ``plt.xlabel(..., fontfeatures=...)``)
+
+Font feature strings are eventually passed to HarfBuzz, and so all `string formats
+supported by hb_feature_from_string()
+<https://harfbuzz.github.io/harfbuzz-hb-common.html#hb-feature-from-string>`__ are
+supported. Note though that subranges are not explicitly supported and behaviour may
+change in the future.
+
+For example, the default font ``DejaVu Sans`` enables Standard Ligatures (the ``'liga'``
+tag) by default, and also provides optional Discretionary Ligatures (the ``dlig`` tag.)
+These may be toggled with ``+`` or ``-``.
+
+.. plot::
+    :include-source:
+
+    fig = plt.figure(figsize=(7, 3))
+
+    fig.text(0.5, 0.85, 'Ligatures', fontsize=40, horizontalalignment='center')
+
+    # Default has Standard Ligatures (liga).
+    fig.text(0, 0.6, 'Default: fi ffi fl st', fontsize=40)
+
+    # Disable Standard Ligatures with -liga.
+    fig.text(0, 0.35, 'Disabled: fi ffi fl st', fontsize=40,
+             fontfeatures=['-liga'])
+
+    # Enable Discretionary Ligatures with dlig.
+    fig.text(0, 0.1, 'Discretionary: fi ffi fl st', fontsize=40,
+             fontfeatures=['dlig'])
+
+Available font feature tags may be found at
+https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/opentype/spec/featurelist
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/_text_helpers.py b/lib/matplotlib/_text_helpers.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def warn_on_missing_glyph(codepoint, fontnames):
         f"missing from font(s) {fontnames}.")
 
 
-def layout(string, font, *, kern_mode=Kerning.DEFAULT, language=None):
+def layout(string, font, *, features=None, kern_mode=Kerning.DEFAULT, language=None):
     """
     Render *string* with *font*.
 
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ def layout(string, font, *, kern_mode=Kerning.DEFAULT, language=None):
         The string to be rendered.
     font : FT2Font
         The font.
+    features : tuple of str, optional
+        The font features to apply to the text.
     kern_mode : Kerning
         A FreeType kerning mode.
     language : str, optional
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ def layout(string, font, *, kern_mode=Kerning.DEFAULT, language=None):
     """
     x = 0
     prev_glyph_index = None
-    char_to_font = font._get_fontmap(string)  # TODO: Pass in language.
+    char_to_font = font._get_fontmap(string)  # TODO: Pass in features and language.
     base_font = font
     for char in string:
         # This has done the fallback logic

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ def draw_text(self, gc, x, y, s, prop, angle, ismath=False, mtext=None):
         # We pass '0' for angle here, since it will be rotated (in raster
         # space) in the following call to draw_text_image).
         font.set_text(s, 0, flags=get_hinting_flag(),
+                      features=mtext.get_fontfeatures() if mtext is not None else None,
                       language=mtext.get_language() if mtext is not None else None)
         font.draw_glyphs_to_bitmap(
             antialiased=gc.get_antialiased())

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
@@ -2263,7 +2263,11 @@ def draw_text(self, gc, x, y, s, prop, angle, ismath=False, mtext=None):
             return self.draw_mathtext(gc, x, y, s, prop, angle)
 
         fontsize = prop.get_size_in_points()
-        language = mtext.get_language() if mtext is not None else None
+        if mtext is not None:
+            features = mtext.get_fontfeatures()
+            language = mtext.get_language()
+        else:
+            features = language = None
 
         if mpl.rcParams['pdf.use14corefonts']:
             font = self._get_font_afm(prop)
@@ -2273,7 +2277,7 @@ def draw_text(self, gc, x, y, s, prop, angle, ismath=False, mtext=None):
             fonttype = mpl.rcParams['pdf.fonttype']
 
         if gc.get_url() is not None:
-            font.set_text(s, language=language)
+            font.set_text(s, features=features, language=language)
             width, height = font.get_width_height()
             self.file._annotations[-1][1].append(_get_link_annotation(
                 gc, x, y, width / 64, height / 64, angle))
@@ -2321,7 +2325,8 @@ def output_singlebyte_chunk(kerns_or_chars):
             prev_start_x = 0
             # Emit all the characters in a BT/ET group.
             self.file.output(Op.begin_text)
-            for item in _text_helpers.layout(s, font, kern_mode=Kerning.UNFITTED,
+            for item in _text_helpers.layout(s, font, features=features,
+                                             kern_mode=Kerning.UNFITTED,
                                              language=language):
                 subset, charcode = self.file._character_tracker.track_glyph(
                     item.ft_object, item.char, item.glyph_index)

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
@@ -798,9 +798,14 @@ def draw_text(self, gc, x, y, s, prop, angle, ismath=False, mtext=None):
                 thisx += width * scale
 
         else:
-            language = mtext.get_language() if mtext is not None else None
+            if mtext is not None:
+                features = mtext.get_fontfeatures()
+                language = mtext.get_language()
+            else:
+                features = language = None
             font = self._get_font_ttf(prop)
-            for item in _text_helpers.layout(s, font, language=language):
+            for item in _text_helpers.layout(s, font, features=features,
+                                             language=language):
                 # NOTE: We ignore the character code in the subset, because PS uses the
                 # glyph name to write text. The subset is only used to ensure that each
                 # one does not overflow format limits.

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py b/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ def afmFontProperty(fontpath, font):
 
 def _cleanup_fontproperties_init(init_method):
     """
-    A decorator to limit the call signature to single a positional argument
+    A decorator to limit the call signature to a single positional argument
     or alternatively only keyword arguments.
 
     We still accept but deprecate all other call signatures.

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/ft2font.pyi b/lib/matplotlib/ft2font.pyi
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ class FT2Font(Buffer):
         angle: float = ...,
         flags: LoadFlags = ...,
         *,
+        features: tuple[str] | None = ...,
         language: str | list[tuple[str, int, int]] | None = ...,
     ) -> NDArray[np.float64]: ...
     @property

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_ft2font.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_ft2font.py
@@ -229,6 +229,19 @@ def test_ft2font_set_size():
     assert font.get_width_height() == tuple(pytest.approx(2 * x, 1e-1) for x in orig)
 
 
+def test_ft2font_features():
+    # Smoke test that these are accepted as intended.
+    file = fm.findfont('DejaVu Sans')
+    font = ft2font.FT2Font(file)
+    font.set_text('foo', features=None)  # unset
+    font.set_text('foo', features=['calt', 'dlig'])  # list
+    font.set_text('foo', features=('calt', 'dlig'))  # tuple
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        font.set_text('foo', features=123)
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        font.set_text('foo', features=[123, 456])
+
+
 def test_ft2font_charmaps():
     def enc(name):
         # We don't expose the encoding enum from FreeType, but can generate it here.

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_text.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_text.py
@@ -1204,6 +1204,22 @@ def test_ytick_rotation_mode():
     plt.subplots_adjust(left=0.4, right=0.6, top=.99, bottom=.01)
 
 
+@image_comparison(baseline_images=['features.png'], remove_text=False, style='mpl20')
+def test_text_features():
+    fig = plt.figure(figsize=(5, 1.5))
+    t = fig.text(1, 0.7, 'Default: fi ffi fl st',
+                 fontsize=32, horizontalalignment='right')
+    assert t.get_fontfeatures() is None
+    t = fig.text(1, 0.4, 'Disabled: fi ffi fl st',
+                 fontsize=32, horizontalalignment='right',
+                 fontfeatures=['-liga'])
+    assert t.get_fontfeatures() == ('-liga', )
+    t = fig.text(1, 0.1, 'Discretionary: fi ffi fl st',
+                 fontsize=32, horizontalalignment='right')
+    t.set_fontfeatures(['dlig'])
+    assert t.get_fontfeatures() == ('dlig', )
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     'input, match',
     [

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/text.py b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ def __init__(self,
         super().__init__()
         self._x, self._y = x, y
         self._text = ''
+        self._features = None
         self.set_language(None)
         self._reset_visual_defaults(
             text=text,
@@ -849,6 +850,12 @@ def get_fontfamily(self):
         """
         return self._fontproperties.get_family()
 
+    def get_fontfeatures(self):
+        """
+        Return a tuple of font feature tags to enable.
+        """
+        return self._features
+
     def get_fontname(self):
         """
         Return the font name as a string.
@@ -1096,6 +1103,39 @@ def set_fontfamily(self, fontname):
         self._fontproperties.set_family(fontname)
         self.stale = True
 
+    def set_fontfeatures(self, features):
+        """
+        Set the feature tags to enable on the font.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        features : list of str, or tuple of str, or None
+            A list of feature tags to be used with the associated font. These strings
+            are eventually passed to HarfBuzz, and so all `string formats supported by
+            hb_feature_from_string()
+            <https://harfbuzz.github.io/harfbuzz-hb-common.html#hb-feature-from-string>`__
+            are supported. Note though that subranges are not explicitly supported and
+            behaviour may change in the future.
+
+            For example, if your desired font includes Stylistic Sets which enable
+            various typographic alternates including one that you do not wish to use
+            (e.g., Contextual Ligatures), then you can pass the following to enable one
+            and not the other::

+                fp.set_features([
+                    'ss01',  # Use Stylistic Set 1.
+                    '-clig',  # But disable Contextural Ligatures.
+                ])
+
+            Available font feature tags may be found at
+            https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/opentype/spec/featurelist
+        """
+        _api.check_isinstance((Sequence, None), features=features)
+        if features is not None:
+            features = tuple(features)
+        self._features = features
+        self.stale = True
+
     def set_fontvariant(self, variant):
         """
         Set the font variant.

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/text.pyi b/lib/matplotlib/text.pyi
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class Text(Artist):
     def get_color(self) -> ColorType: ...
     def get_fontproperties(self) -> FontProperties: ...
     def get_fontfamily(self) -> list[str]: ...
+    def get_fontfeatures(self) -> tuple[str, ...] | None: ...
     def get_fontname(self) -> str: ...
     def get_fontstyle(self) -> Literal["normal", "italic", "oblique"]: ...
     def get_fontsize(self) -> float | str: ...
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ class Text(Artist):
     def set_multialignment(self, align: Literal["left", "center", "right"]) -> None: ...
     def set_linespacing(self, spacing: float) -> None: ...
     def set_fontfamily(self, fontname: str | Iterable[str]) -> None: ...
+    def set_fontfeatures(self, features: Sequence[str] | None) -> None: ...
     def set_fontvariant(self, variant: Literal["normal", "small-caps"]) -> None: ...
     def set_fontstyle(
         self, fontstyle: Literal["normal", "italic", "oblique"]

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/textpath.py b/lib/matplotlib/textpath.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def get_text_width_height_descent(self, s, prop, ismath):
         d /= 64.0
         return w * scale, h * scale, d * scale
 
-    def get_text_path(self, prop, s, ismath=False, *, language=None):
+    def get_text_path(self, prop, s, ismath=False, *, features=None, language=None):
         """
         Convert text *s* to path (a tuple of vertices and codes for
         matplotlib.path.Path).
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ def get_text_path(self, prop, s, ismath=False, *, language=None):
             glyph_info, glyph_map, rects = self.get_glyphs_tex(prop, s)
         elif not ismath:
             font = self._get_font(prop)
-            glyph_info, glyph_map, rects = self.get_glyphs_with_font(font, s,
-                                                                     language=language)
+            glyph_info, glyph_map, rects = self.get_glyphs_with_font(
+                font, s, features=features, language=language)
         else:
             glyph_info, glyph_map, rects = self.get_glyphs_mathtext(prop, s)
 
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ def get_text_path(self, prop, s, ismath=False, *, language=None):
         return verts, codes
 
     def get_glyphs_with_font(self, font, s, glyph_map=None,
-                             return_new_glyphs_only=False, *, language=None):
+                             return_new_glyphs_only=False, *, features=None,
+                             language=None):
         """
         Convert string *s* to vertices and codes using the provided ttf font.
         """
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ def get_glyphs_with_font(self, font, s, glyph_map=None,
 
         xpositions = []
         glyph_reprs = []
-        for item in _text_helpers.layout(s, font, language=language):
+        for item in _text_helpers.layout(s, font, features=features, language=language):
             glyph_repr = self._get_glyph_repr(item.ft_object, item.glyph_index)
             glyph_reprs.append(glyph_repr)
             xpositions.append(item.x)

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/textpath.pyi b/lib/matplotlib/textpath.pyi
@@ -16,7 +16,12 @@ class TextToPath:
         self, s: str, prop: FontProperties, ismath: bool | Literal["TeX"]
     ) -> tuple[float, float, float]: ...
     def get_text_path(
-        self, prop: FontProperties, s: str, ismath: bool | Literal["TeX"] = ..., *,
+        self,
+        prop: FontProperties,
+        s: str,
+        ismath: bool | Literal["TeX"] = ...,
+        *,
+        features: tuple[str] | None = ...,
         language: str | list[tuple[str, int, int]] | None = ...,
     ) -> list[np.ndarray]: ...
     def get_glyphs_with_font(
@@ -26,6 +31,7 @@ class TextToPath:
         glyph_map: dict[str, tuple[np.ndarray, np.ndarray]] | None = ...,
         return_new_glyphs_only: bool = ...,
         *,
+        features: tuple[str] | None = ...,
         language: str | list[tuple[str, int, int]] | None = ...,
     ) -> tuple[
         list[tuple[str, float, float, float]],

diff --git a/src/ft2font.cpp b/src/ft2font.cpp
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ void FT2Font::set_kerning_factor(int factor)
 
 std::vector<raqm_glyph_t> FT2Font::layout(
     std::u32string_view text, FT_Int32 flags,
-    LanguageType languages,
+    std::optional<std::vector<std::string>> features, LanguageType languages,
     std::set<FT_String*>& glyph_seen_fonts)
 {
     clear();
@@ -344,6 +344,13 @@ std::vector<raqm_glyph_t> FT2Font::layout(
     if (!raqm_set_freetype_load_flags(rq, flags)) {
         throw std::runtime_error("failed to set text flags for layout");
     }
+    if (features) {
+        for (auto const& feature : *features) {
+            if (!raqm_add_font_feature(rq, feature.c_str(), feature.size())) {
+                throw std::runtime_error("failed to set font feature {}"_s.format(feature));
+            }
+        }
+    }
     if (languages) {
         for (auto & [lang_str, start, end] : *languages) {
             if (!raqm_set_language(rq, lan
3044
g_str.c_str(), start, end - start)) {
@@ -417,6 +424,14 @@ std::vector<raqm_glyph_t> FT2Font::layout(
         if (!raqm_set_freetype_load_flags(rq, flags)) {
             throw std::runtime_error("failed to set text flags for layout");
         }
+        if (features) {
+            for (auto const& feature : *features) {
+                if (!raqm_add_font_feature(rq, feature.c_str(), feature.size())) {
+                    throw std::runtime_error(
+                        "failed to set font feature {}"_s.format(feature));
+                }
+            }
+        }
         if (languages) {
             for (auto & [lang_str, start, end] : *languages) {
                 if (!raqm_set_language(rq, lang_str.c_str(), start, end - start)) {
@@ -440,7 +455,7 @@ std::vector<raqm_glyph_t> FT2Font::layout(
 
 void FT2Font::set_text(
     std::u32string_view text, double angle, FT_Int32 flags,
-    LanguageType languages,
+    std::optional<std::vector<std::string>> features, LanguageType languages,
     std::vector<double> &xys)
 {
     FT_Matrix matrix; /* transformation matrix */
@@ -457,7 +472,7 @@ void FT2Font::set_text(
     matrix.yy = (FT_Fixed)cosangle;
 
     std::set<FT_String*> glyph_seen_fonts;
-    auto rq_glyphs = layout(text, flags, languages, glyph_seen_fonts);
+    auto rq_glyphs = layout(text, flags, features, languages, glyph_seen_fonts);
 
     bbox.xMin = bbox.yMin = 32000;
     bbox.xMax = bbox.yMax = -32000;

diff --git a/src/ft2font.h b/src/ft2font.h
@@ -114,9 +114,11 @@ class FT2Font
     void set_charmap(int i);
     void select_charmap(unsigned long i);
     std::vector<raqm_glyph_t> layout(std::u32string_view text, FT_Int32 flags,
+                                     std::optional<std::vector<std::string>> features,
                                      LanguageType languages,
                                      std::set<FT_String*>& glyph_seen_fonts);
     void set_text(std::u32string_view codepoints, double angle, FT_Int32 flags,
+                  std::optional<std::vector<std::string>> features,
                   LanguageType languages, std::vector<double> &xys);
     int get_kerning(FT_UInt left, FT_UInt right, FT_Kerning_Mode mode);
     void set_kerning_factor(int factor);