The <clipPath> SVG element defines a clipping path, to be used by the clip-path property.

A clipping path restricts the region to which paint can be applied. Conceptually, parts of the drawing that lie outside of the region bounded by the clipping path are not drawn.

Usage context

Attributes

clipPathUnits

Defines the coordinate system for the contents of the <clipPath> element. Value type: userSpaceOnUse | objectBoundingBox; Default value: userSpaceOnUse; Animatable: yes

DOM Interface

This element implements the SVGClipPathElement interface.

Example

<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100">
  <clipPath id="myClip">
    <!--
      Everything outside the circle will be
      clipped and therefore invisible.
    -->
    <circle cx="40" cy="35" r="35" />
  </clipPath>

  <!-- The original black heart, for reference -->
  <path
    id="heart"
    d="M10,30 A20,20,0,0,1,50,30 A20,20,0,0,1,90,30 Q90,60,50,90 Q10,60,10,30 Z" />

  <!--
    Only the portion of the red heart
    inside the clip circle is visible.
  -->
  <use clip-path="url(#myClip)" href="#heart" fill="red" />
</svg>

/* With a touch of CSS for browsers who *
 * implemented the r Geometry Property. */

@keyframes openYourHeart {
  from {
    r: 0;
  }
  to {
    r: 60px;
  }
}

#myClip circle {
  animation: openYourHeart 15s infinite;
}

A clipping path is conceptually equivalent to a custom viewport for the referencing element. Thus, it affects the rendering of an element, but not the element's inherent geometry. The bounding box of a clipped element (meaning, an element which references a <clipPath> element via a clip-path property, or a child of the referencing element) must remain the same as if it were not clipped.

By default, pointer-events are not dispatched on clipped regions. For example, a circle with a radius of 10 which is clipped to a circle with a radius of 5 will not receive "click" events outside the smaller radius.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Related

• <mask>
• CSS clip-path property
• Introduction to CSS clipping
• CSS masking module