Merge pull request matplotlib#27379 from meeseeksmachine/auto-backport-of-pr-27376-on-v3.8.x

Backport PR matplotlib#27376 on branch v3.8.x ([MNT] fix type annotations of `fignum_exists`)

Author: rcomer

lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py

@@ -1000,9 +1000,24 @@ def gcf() -> Figure:
         return figure()
 
 
-def fignum_exists(num: int) -> bool:
-    """Return whether the figure with the given id exists."""
-    return _pylab_helpers.Gcf.has_fignum(num) or num in get_figlabels()
+def fignum_exists(num: int | str) -> bool:
+    """Return whether the figure with the given id exists.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    num : int or str
+        A figure identifier.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    bool
+        Whether or not a figure with id *num* exists.
+    """
+    return (
+        _pylab_helpers.Gcf.has_fignum(num)
+        if isinstance(num, int)
+        else num in get_figlabels()
+    )
 
 
 def get_fignums() -> list[int]: