The difference in behavior is due to the different value of the NextPlot property between axes and uiaxes.
Most graphics commands (including plot and imagesc) call a helper function called newplot. This command is designed to "prepare a figure and axes for subsequent graphics commands." It does this by checking the value of the NextPlot property on the axes:
- If NextPlot is 'replace' the newplot command will reset the axes back to its default state (resetting all properties, including the Tag). This is the default value for regular axes (created with the axes command).
- If NextPlot is 'replacechildren' the newplot command will delete the children of the axes, but won't reset any properties (so the Tag is preserved). This is the default value for uiaxes.
- If NextPlot is 'add' the newplot command will not modify the axes or delete the children. When you turn hold on, the hold command sets the NextPlot property to 'add'.
In response to your comment about "in some operations I need to get the axis handle to do something".
My recommendation is to try to store the handle to your axes and reuse that, rather than relying on something like findobj (which I assume is how you are searching for the axes with your tag). You are already doing that in several places in your code. For example, you are already passing your axes handle into your callback function (plotButtonPushed) so you do not need to rely on the tag. This is the general approach I would recommend.
If that doesn't work, then you will either need to change the NextPlot value (either directly or using hold) before you call plot or imagesc, or reset the Tag after every call to a plotting function.
