d3-path

d3-path

Say you have some code that draws to a 2D canvas:

function drawCircle(context, radius) {
  context.moveTo(radius, 0);
  context.arc(0, 0, radius, 0, 2 * Math.PI);
}

The d3-path module lets you take this exact code and additionally render to SVG. It works by serializing CanvasPathMethods calls to SVG path data. For example:

const context = d3.path();
drawCircle(context, 40);
pathElement.setAttribute("d", context.toString());

Now code you write once can be used with both Canvas (for performance) and SVG (for convenience). For a practical example, see d3-shape.

Installing

If you use npm, npm install d3-path. You can also download the latest release on GitHub. In modern browsers, you can import d3-path from jsDelivr:

<script type="module">

import {path} from "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/d3-path@3/+esm";

const p = path();
p.moveTo(1, 2);
p.lineTo(3, 4);
p.closePath();

</script>

For legacy environments, you can load d3-path’s UMD bundle from an npm-based CDN such as jsDelivr; a d3 global is exported:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/d3-path@3"></script>
<script>

const path = d3.path();

</script>

API Reference

# d3.path() · Source, Examples

Constructs a new path serializer that implements CanvasPathMethods.

# path.moveTo(x, y)

Move to the specified point ⟨x, y⟩. Equivalent to context.moveTo and SVG’s “moveto” command.

# path.closePath()

Ends the current subpath and causes an automatic straight line to be drawn from the current point to the initial point of the current subpath. Equivalent to context.closePath and SVG’s “closepath” command.

# path.lineTo(x, y)

Draws a straight line from the current point to the specified point ⟨x, y⟩. Equivalent to context.lineTo and SVG’s “lineto” command.

# path.quadraticCurveTo(cpx, cpy, x, y)

Draws a quadratic Bézier segment from the current point to the specified point ⟨x, y⟩, with the specified control point ⟨cpx, cpy⟩. Equivalent to context.quadraticCurveTo and SVG’s quadratic Bézier curve commands.

# path.bezierCurveTo(cpx1, cpy1, cpx2, cpy2, x, y)

Draws a cubic Bézier segment from the current point to the specified point ⟨x, y⟩, with the specified control points ⟨cpx1, cpy1⟩ and ⟨cpx2, cpy2⟩. Equivalent to context.bezierCurveTo and SVG’s cubic Bézier curve commands.

# path.arcTo(x1, y1, x2, y2, radius)

Draws a circular arc segment with the specified radius that starts tangent to the line between the current point and the specified point ⟨x1, y1⟩ and ends tangent to the line between the specified points ⟨x1, y1⟩ and ⟨x2, y2⟩. If the first tangent point is not equal to the current point, a straight line is drawn between the current point and the first tangent point. Equivalent to context.arcTo and uses SVG’s elliptical arc curve commands.

# path.arc(x, y, radius, startAngle, endAngle[, anticlockwise])

Draws a circular arc segment with the specified center ⟨x, y⟩, radius, startAngle and endAngle. If anticlockwise is true, the arc is drawn in the anticlockwise direction; otherwise, it is drawn in the clockwise direction. If the current point is not equal to the starting point of the arc, a straight line is drawn from the current point to the start of the arc. Equivalent to context.arc and uses SVG’s elliptical arc curve commands.

# path.rect(x, y, w, h)

Creates a new subpath containing just the four points ⟨x, y⟩, ⟨x + w, y⟩, ⟨x + w, y + h⟩, ⟨x, y + h⟩, with those four points connected by straight lines, and then marks the subpath as closed. Equivalent to context.rect and uses SVG’s “lineto” commands.

# path.toString()

Returns the string representation of this path according to SVG’s path data specification.

# d3.pathRound(digits = 3) · Source, Examples

Like d3.path, except limits the digits after the decimal to the specified number of digits.

Similar packages

Other packages similar to d3-path

svg-pathdata

The svg-pathdata package provides tools to parse, transform, and serialize SVG path data. It offers more granular control over path data manipulation compared to d3-path, but it may require more effort to achieve the same results.

two.js

Two.js is a lightweight 2D drawing library for modern web browsers. It provides a higher-level API for creating and manipulating shapes, including paths, but it is not as focused on SVG path data manipulation as d3-path.

paper

Paper.js is an open-source vector graphics scripting framework that runs on top of the HTML5 Canvas. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for working with vector graphics, including path manipulation, but it is more complex and feature-rich compared to d3-path.