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SVG <path>

SVG Path - <path>

The <path> element is used to define a path.

The following commands are available for path data:

  • M = moveto
  • L = lineto
  • H = horizontal lineto
  • V = vertical lineto
  • C = curveto
  • S = smooth curveto
  • Q = quadratic Bézier curve
  • T = smooth quadratic Bézier curveto
  • A = elliptical Arc
  • Z = closepath

Note: All of the commands above can also be expressed with lower letters. Capital letters means absolutely positioned, lower cases means relatively positioned.

Example 1

Define a path that starts at position 150,0 with a line to position 75,200 then from there, a line to 225,200 and finally closing the path back to 150,0:

Here is the SVG code:

Example

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1">
  <path d="M150 0 L75 200 L225 200 Z" />
</svg>

Try it yourself »

For Opera users: View the SVG file (right-click on the SVG graphic to view the source).

Example 2

Bézier curves are used to model smooth curves that can be scaled indefinitely. Generally, the user selects two endpoints and one or two control points. A Bézier curve with one control point is called a quadratic Bézier curve and the kind with two control points is called cubic.

The following example creates a quadratic Bézier curve, were A and C are the start and end points, B is the control point:

Here is the SVG code:

Example

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1">
  <path id="lineAB" d="M 100 350 l 150 -300" stroke="red"
  stroke-width="3" fill="none" />
  <path id="lineBC" d="M 250 50 l 150 300" stroke="red"
  stroke-width="3" fill="none" />
  <path d="M 175 200 l 150 0" stroke="green" stroke-width="3"
  fill="none" />
  <path d="M 100 350 q 150 -300 300 0" stroke="blue"
  stroke-width="5" fill="none" />
  <!-- Mark relevant points -->
  <g stroke="black" stroke-width="3" fill="black">
    <circle id="pointA" cx="100" cy="350" r="3" />
    <circle id="pointB" cx="250" cy="50" r="3" />
    <circle id="pointC" cx="400" cy="350" r="3" />
  </g>
  <!-- Label the points -->
  <g font-size="30" font="sans-serif" fill="black" stroke="none"
  text-anchor="middle">
    <text x="100" y="350" dx="-30">A</text>
    <text x="250" y="50" dy="-10">B</text>
    <text x="400" y="350" dx="30">C</text>
  </g>
</svg>

Try it yourself »

For Opera users: View the SVG file (right-click on the SVG graphic to view the source).

Complex? YES!!!! Because of the complexity involved in drawing paths it is highly recommended to use an SVG editor to create complex graphics.


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