Understanding How To Create Svgs With Javascript In 2023

The Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format is the preferred image format for many web developers because it offers a range of advantages over other types of image formats. SVG images are resolution-independent, meaning that they can be scaled up or down in size without losing any image quality. This makes them ideal for use in responsive web designs, where the size of the image needs to adjust according to the size of the display. Additionally, SVG images are much smaller than other types of images, which can reduce loading times and make sites more user-friendly.

In the past, creating SVG images has typically been done with a graphic design tool like Adobe Illustrator. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly easy to create SVG images with JavaScript. This can be especially useful for web developers who need to create complex, dynamic images that need to be updated in real time. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to do just that.

Table of Contents

Creating an SVG Element with JavaScript

The first step to creating an SVG with JavaScript is to create an SVG element. This can be done with the document.createElementNS() method, which takes two parameters: the namespace URI and the qualified name of the element. For an SVG element, the namespace URI should be “http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” and the qualified name should be “svg”.

The code for creating an SVG element would look like this:

var svg = document.createElementNS("http://www.w3.org/2000/svg", "svg");

The next step is to set the width and height attributes of the SVG element. This can be done with the setAttribute() method, which takes two parameters: the attribute name and the value. The code for setting the width and height attributes would look like this:

svg.setAttribute("width", "100px");
 svg.setAttribute("height", "100px");

Now that we have an SVG element with the correct width and height attributes, we can start adding shapes to it.

Adding Shapes to an SVG Element

The next step is to add shapes to the SVG element. This can be done with the createElementNS() method, which takes two parameters: the namespace URI and the qualified name of the element. For an SVG shape, the namespace URI should be “http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” and the qualified name should be the type of shape you want to create. For example, if you want to create a rectangle, the qualified name should be “rect”.

The code for creating a rectangle would look like this:

var rect = document.createElementNS("http://www.w3.org/2000/svg", "rect");

Once the shape has been created, you can set the attributes of the shape. This can be done with the setAttribute() method, which takes two parameters: the attribute name and the value. The attributes for a rectangle are x, y, width, and height. The code for setting the attributes of a rectangle would look like this:

rect.setAttribute("x", "10");
 rect.setAttribute("y", "10");
 rect.setAttribute("width", "50");
 rect.setAttribute("height", "50");

Once the attributes have been set, the shape can be added to the SVG element. This can be done with the appendChild() method, which takes one parameter: the child element you want to add. The code for adding the rectangle to the SVG element would look like this:

svg.appendChild(rect);

Now that we have an SVG element with a shape in it, we can start styling the shape.

Styling an SVG Shape with JavaScript

The next step is to style the shape. This can be done with the setAttribute() method, which takes two parameters: the attribute name and the value. The attributes that can be used to style an SVG shape are fill, stroke, and stroke-width. The code for styling a shape would look like this:

rect.setAttribute("fill", "red");
 rect.setAttribute("stroke", "black");
 rect.setAttribute("stroke-width", "2");

Now that the shape has been styled, we can add it to the page. This can be done with the appendChild() method, which takes one parameter: the child element you want to add. The code for adding the SVG element to the page would look like this:

document.body.appendChild(svg);

And that’s it! You’ve successfully created an SVG element with a shape in it and styled it with JavaScript.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we’ve shown you how to create an SVG element with JavaScript and add a shape to it. We’ve also demonstrated how to style the shape with the setAttribute() method. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to create complex, dynamic images with JavaScript that can be updated in real time.