# d3-path

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

```js
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](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html). It works by [serializing](#path_toString) [CanvasPathMethods](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#canvaspathmethods) calls to [SVG path data](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathData). For example:

```js
var 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](https://github.com/d3/d3-shape).

## Installing

If you use NPM, `npm install d3-path`. Otherwise, download the [latest release](https://github.com/d3/d3-path/releases/latest). You can also load directly from [d3js.org](https://d3js.org), either as a [standalone library](https://d3js.org/d3-path.v1.min.js) or as part of [D3 4.0](https://github.com/d3/d3). AMD, CommonJS, and vanilla environments are supported. In vanilla, a `d3` global is exported:

```html
<script src="https://d3js.org/d3-path.v1.min.js"></script>
<script>

var path = d3.path();
path.moveTo(1, 2);
path.lineTo(3, 4);
path.closePath();

</script>
```

## API Reference

# d3.path() · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-path/blob/master/src/path.js), [Examples](https://observablehq.com/@d3/d3-path)

Constructs a new path serializer that implements [CanvasPathMethods](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#canvaspathmethods).

# path.moveTo(x, y)

Move to the specified point ⟨*x*, *y*⟩. Equivalent to [*context*.moveTo](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-moveto) and SVG’s [“moveto” command](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataMovetoCommands).

# 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](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-closepath) and SVG’s [“closepath” command](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataClosePathCommand).

# path.lineTo(x, y)

Draws a straight line from the current point to the specified point ⟨*x*, *y*⟩. Equivalent to [*context*.lineTo](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-lineto) and SVG’s [“lineto” command](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataLinetoCommands).

# 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](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-quadraticcurveto) and SVG’s [quadratic Bézier curve commands](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataQuadraticBezierCommands).

# 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](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-beziercurveto) and SVG’s [cubic Bézier curve commands](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataCubicBezierCommands).

# 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](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-arcto) and uses SVG’s [elliptical arc curve commands](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataEllipticalArcCommands).

# 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](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-arc) and uses SVG’s [elliptical arc curve commands](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataEllipticalArcCommands).

# 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](http://www.w3.org/TR/2dcontext/#dom-context-2d-rect) and uses SVG’s [“lineto” commands](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathDataLinetoCommands).

# path.toString()

Returns the string representation of this *path* according to SVG’s [path data specification](http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/paths.html#PathData).
