diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/artist.py b/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
index fd35b312835a..c677875b2db0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
@@ -1393,6 +1393,28 @@ def set_mouseover(self, mouseover):
                 ax._mouseover_set.discard(self)
 
     mouseover = property(get_mouseover, set_mouseover)  # backcompat.
+    
+    def set_tooltip(self, tooltip):
+        """
+        Set tooltip for the artist.
+        
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        tooltip : str, list, callable, or None
+            - If a string, the same tooltip is used for all data points.
+            - If a list, each element is used as tooltip for the corresponding data point.
+            - If a callable, it is called with the data point coordinates as arguments,
+              and should return the tooltip string.
+            - If None, no tooltip is shown.
+        """
+        self._tooltip = tooltip
+        self.stale = True
+    
+    def get_tooltip(self):
+        """
+        Return the tooltip for the artist.
+        """
+        return getattr(self, '_tooltip', None)
 
 
 def _get_tightbbox_for_layout_only(obj, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index e480f8f29598..6d415b187158 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -1769,9 +1769,17 @@ def plot(self, *args, scalex=True, scaley=True, data=None, **kwargs):
         (``'green'``) or hex strings (``'#008000'``).
         """
         kwargs = cbook.normalize_kwargs(kwargs, mlines.Line2D)
+        
+        # Extract tooltip parameter before creating lines
+        tooltip = kwargs.pop('tooltip', None)
+        
         lines = [*self._get_lines(self, *args, data=data, **kwargs)]
         for line in lines:
             self.add_line(line)
+            # Set tooltip if provided
+            if tooltip is not None:
+                line.set_tooltip(tooltip)
+                
         if scalex:
             self._request_autoscale_view("x")
         if scaley:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 2158990f578a..a93fa2671b09 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -1904,6 +1904,28 @@ def draw_idle(self, *args, **kwargs):
             with self._idle_draw_cntx():
                 self.draw(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    def show_tooltip(self, text, x, y, timeout=None):
+        """
+        Display a tooltip with the given text at the position (x, y).
+        
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        text : str
+            The tooltip text containing arbitrary data.
+        x, y : float
+            The position of the tooltip in display coordinates.
+        timeout : float, optional
+            The timeout in seconds after which the tooltip should disappear.
+            If None, the tooltip will remain until explicitly hidden.
+        """
+        pass
+    
+    def hide_tooltip(self):
+        """
+        Hide the currently displayed tooltip.
+        """
+        pass
+
     @property
     def device_pixel_ratio(self):
         """
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index 5cde4866cad7..fbea938a1b72 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 from . import qt_compat
 from .qt_compat import (
     QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets, __version__, QT_API, _to_int, _isdeleted)
+from matplotlib.backends.backend_qt import FigureCanvasQT
 
 
 # SPECIAL_KEYS are Qt::Key that do *not* return their Unicode name
@@ -542,6 +543,64 @@ def _draw_rect_callback(painter):
                 return
         self._draw_rect_callback = _draw_rect_callback
         self.update()
+        
+    def __init__(self, figure):
+        super().__init__(figure)
+        self._tooltip_timer = None
+        self._tooltip_label = None
+    
+    def show_tooltip(self, text, x, y, timeout=None):
+        """
+        Show a tooltip on the canvas.
+        """
+        from matplotlib.backends.qt_compat import QtWidgets, QtCore
+        
+        if self._tooltip_label is None:
+            self._tooltip_label = QtWidgets.QLabel(self)
+            self._tooltip_label.setStyleSheet("""
+                background-color: rgba(255, 255, 245, 0.9);
+                border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+                border-radius: 4px;
+                padding: 4px;
+                font-size: 9pt;
+            """)
+            self._tooltip_label.setAlignment(QtCore.Qt.AlignLeft | QtCore.Qt.AlignTop)
+            self._tooltip_label.hide()
+        
+        # x, y are expected to be in display/pixel coordinates
+        # Set text and adjust size
+        self._tooltip_label.setText(text)
+        self._tooltip_label.adjustSize()
+        
+        # Position tooltip slightly offset from cursor
+        offset_x, offset_y = 10, 10
+        self._tooltip_label.move(int(x + offset_x), int(y + offset_y))
+        
+        # Show tooltip
+        self._tooltip_label.show()
+        self._tooltip_label.raise_()
+        
+        # Handle timeout (optional - removes tooltip automatically)
+        if self._tooltip_timer is not None:
+            self._tooltip_timer.stop()
+            self._tooltip_timer = None
+            
+        if timeout is not None:
+            self._tooltip_timer = QtCore.QTimer()
+            self._tooltip_timer.setSingleShot(True)
+            self._tooltip_timer.timeout.connect(self.hide_tooltip)
+            self._tooltip_timer.start(int(timeout * 1000))
+    
+    def hide_tooltip(self):
+        """
+        Hide the tooltip.
+        """
+        if self._tooltip_label is not None:
+            self._tooltip_label.hide()
+        
+        if self._tooltip_timer is not None:
+            self._tooltip_timer.stop()
+            self._tooltip_timer = None
 
 
 class MainWindow(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
index bf4e2253324f..00267bd39c52 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 """
 
 from contextlib import ExitStack
+from matplotlib import lines
 import inspect
 import itertools
 import functools
@@ -2650,6 +2651,7 @@ def __init__(self,
 
         self._axstack = _AxesStack()  # track all figure Axes and current Axes
         self.clear()
+        self._init_tooltip_handling()
 
     def pick(self, mouseevent):
         if not self.canvas.widgetlock.locked():
@@ -3581,6 +3583,118 @@ def handler(event):
         self.canvas.draw()
 
         return clicks
+        
+    def _init_tooltip_handling(self):
+        """
+        Initialize tooltip event handling.
+        """
+        self._tooltip_cid = self.canvas.mpl_connect(
+            'motion_notify_event', self._on_mouse_move_for_tooltip)
+    
+    def _on_mouse_move_for_tooltip(self, event):
+        """
+        Handle mouse movement for tooltip display.
+        
+        This method is called when the mouse moves over the figure.
+        If the mouse is over an artist with tooltip data, the tooltip is shown.
+        Otherwise, the tooltip is hidden.
+        """
+        if not event.inaxes:
+            self.canvas.hide_tooltip()
+            return
+        
+        # Get all artists under the cursor, from top to bottom
+        artists = []
+        for ax in self.get_axes():
+            if ax == event.inaxes:  # Only check the current axes
+                # Get all artists in this axes, reversed to check top-most first
+                for artist in reversed(ax.get_children()):
+                    if hasattr(artist, 'get_tooltip') and artist.get_visible():
+                        artists.append(artist)
+        
+        # Check if the mouse is over any artist with tooltip data
+        found_tooltip = False
+        for artist in artists:
+            tooltip = artist.get_tooltip()
+            if tooltip is None:
+                continue
+            
+            # Check if the mouse is over this artist
+            contains, info = artist.contains(event)
+            if not contains:
+                continue
+            
+            # Get tooltip text based on the type of tooltip
+            # if isinstance(artist, matplotlib.lines.Line2D) and 'ind' in info:
+            if isinstance(artist, lines.Line2D) and 'ind' in info:
+                # For Line2D objects
+                indices = info['ind']
+                if not indices.size:
+                    continue
+                
+                idx = indices[0]
+                xdata, ydata = artist.get_data()
+                
+                if callable(tooltip):
+                    # Function tooltip
+                    if idx < len(xdata) and idx < len(ydata):
+                        text = tooltip(xdata[idx], ydata[idx])
+                    else:
+                        continue
+                elif isinstance(tooltip, list):
+                    # List tooltip
+                    if idx < len(tooltip):
+                        text = tooltip[idx]
+                    else:
+                        continue
+                else:
+                    # String tooltip
+                    text = str(tooltip)
+            
+            elif isinstance(artist, matplotlib.collections.PathCollection) and 'ind' in info:
+                # For scatter plots
+                indices = info['ind']
+                if not indices.size:
+                    continue
+                
+                idx = indices[0]
+                offsets = artist.get_offsets()
+                
+                if callable(tooltip):
+                    # Function tooltip
+                    if idx < len(offsets):
+                        x, y = offsets[idx]
+                        text = tooltip(x, y)
+                    else:
+                        continue
+                elif isinstance(tooltip, list):
+                    # List tooltip
+                    if idx < len(tooltip):
+                        text = tooltip[idx]
+                    else:
+                        continue
+                else:
+                    # String tooltip
+                    text = str(tooltip)
+            
+            else:
+                # Generic artist
+                if callable(tooltip):
+                    text = tooltip(event.xdata, event.ydata)
+                else:
+                    text = str(tooltip)
+            
+            # Show the tooltip
+            bbox = self.bbox
+            fig_x = event.x / bbox.width
+            fig_y = event.y / bbox.height
+            self.canvas.show_tooltip(text, fig_x, fig_y)
+            found_tooltip = True
+            break
+        
+        # Hide tooltip if no artist with tooltip was found
+        if not found_tooltip:
+            self.canvas.hide_tooltip()
 
     def waitforbuttonpress(self, timeout=-1):
         """
diff --git a/test_tooltip.py b/test_tooltip.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8b119da01b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_tooltip.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# # ## Check if your tooltip data is being stored
+# # import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+# # import numpy as np
+
+# # # Test if tooltip is being stored
+# # x = np.linspace(0, 10, 5)
+# # y = np.sin(x)
+
+# # line, = plt.plot(x, y, 'o-', tooltip=['Point A', 'Point B', 'Point C', 'Point D', 'Point E'])
+
+# # # Check if tooltip was stored
+# # print("Tooltip stored:", line.get_tooltip())
+# # print("Line has tooltip method:", hasattr(line, 'get_tooltip'))
+
+# # # Not showing the plot yet, just testing the storage
+
+
+
+
+# ## Test the backend
+# import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+# import matplotlib
+# import numpy as np
+
+# print("Backend:", matplotlib.get_backend())
+
+# # Test with a simple plot and try hovering
+# x = np.linspace(0, 10, 5)
+# y = np.sin(x)
+
+# fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+# line, = ax.plot(x, y, 'o-', tooltip=['Point A', 'Point B', 'Point C', 'Point D', 'Point E'], picker=5)
+
+# print("Tooltip stored:", line.get_tooltip())
+# print("Figure has tooltip handling:", hasattr(fig, '_on_mouse_move_for_tooltip'))
+
+# # Test if canvas has tooltip methods
+# print("Canvas has show_tooltip:", hasattr(fig.canvas, 'show_tooltip'))
+# print("Canvas has hide_tooltip:", hasattr(fig.canvas, 'hide_tooltip'))
+
+# plt.title('Try hovering over the points')
+# plt.show()
+
+
+# import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+# import numpy as np
+
+# # Test tooltips with console output
+# x = np.linspace(0, 10, 5)
+# y = np.sin(x)
+
+# plt.figure()
+# plt.plot(x, y, 'o-', tooltip=['Point A', 'Point B', 'Point C', 'Point D', 'Point E'])
+# plt.title('Move mouse over points - check console for tooltip messages')
+# plt.show()
\ No newline at end of file