Introduction to SVG
There are several formats in which images could exist that varies based on the characteristics of the image. The image might be an opaque image, the transparent one and so on, and all such features of the images can be defined by the format it has. Some of the very commonly used formats of images are JPEG, PNG, GIF, etc. Among the various formats, there is an important one that is created using the line of code in XML or HTML, called SVG. In this article, we will be learning about SVG, how it is created, what are the extras this format has and things like that. Though it is not the commonly used format of the images, it plays an important role in the contemporary web application that demands quality together with an attractive interface.
Definition of SVG
SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It can be defined as the format of images that are produced using the XML or HTML tags. It is very useful to design two-dimensional graphics and can improve the users’ interaction experience. It was developed by World wide web consortium twenty years back in 1999. The latest version of SVG is 1.1 which was released in 2011. It is very different from the images of other formats as those required graphic designing applications to be designed but the graphics with SVG extension are actually developed using the codes or tags. It is very interactive and can allow the two-dimensional graphics to be designed.
An important point one should know about scalable vector graphics is that it cannot be downloaded similarly to JPEG or PNG format images. When we download images with JPEG or PNG extension, it saves a copy of the image that can be edited using the graphical designing tools like adobe photoshop, paint, etc while the SVG image will be required to be edited by changing the codes. In the modern era, where web applications are supposed to be perfect in every manner, the SVG graphics add amazing quality to it. From designing merely a circle to designing a complex graphic, one needs to use the tags if they want the graphic to be developed using SVG.
How does SVG make Working so Easy?
There are several points where SVG actually makes things very easy. As we discussed earlier, it is very useful when it comes to designing the web application that is supposed to have an amazing outlook. The graphics created with the SVG format makes it very interactive for the user to work with the application. It is very useful when you are required to use the graphical component anywhere on the web application. Together with the HTML codes, one has to write the SVG tag in order to bring its functionality in the webpage. If one wants to draw the simple interface, it could be done in few numbers of the line but in case if the graphics are supposed to be a bit complex than it will demand a long HTML or XML code to be written. By integrating the simpler graphical components like a circle, square, rectangle and so on, one can design a complex graphics.
Working with SVG
In order to learn how to work with SVG, we will be going through the line of codes that has to be written in order to develop the SVG graphics. We will be considering an example, where we will be designing a simple circle with a red color filled in it and with a black border. We will be writing codes in HTML and will be using the SVG tag to introduce the graphics in the web page.
In the above code, we have written the SVG graphics using the SVG tag and its important attributes. In the first line with the SVG tag, we have mentioned the width and the height of the circle. In the second line, we have used the circle tag which can be used as the subtag under the SVG tag. Cx is the attribute of the circle tag that is used to defined how many pixels that circle has to cover in the x-axis. Cy is the attribute of the circle tag that is used to define how many pixels that circle has to cover in the y-axis. The attribute r defines the radius of the circle.
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Stroke defines the color of the border which is black in our case. The next attribute stroke-width defines the width of the circle that one can provide in pixels. The last attribute of the circle tag is filled that is used to define which color has to be filled in the circle. We have chosen red so in the output you will be able to see that the circle has the red color filled in it. If you want to work with the SVG code, you can just copy the code from the above image, save it with HTML extension and see what you find as output. You can keep them modifying to learn or explore more.
Required Skills
In order to work with SVG, you should know how to work with the HTML tags. In HTML, it is implemented using the SVG tag which further has the subtags that can be used under the SVG tag in order to design the graphics. If you have already worked as a web application designed, you may find it easy to work with SVG. Though it is not all about giving structure to the page to changing the look of the HTML elements, you will need a bit of practice before you can start working with SVG. If you have a good idea of graphics designing, it will add an edge to make you work with or learn SVG in a short span of time.
Conclusion
Scalable Vector Graphics are the special format of images that has two-dimensional graphics. Based on the requirement, one can use images with any of the formats but using SVG it will be a bit different as it is developed using the lines of codes rather than using the graphic designing tools. It is mainly used in the web application as it has to be written using the XML or the HTML tag. One can make use of it to make the web application pretty interactive to enhance the users’ experience.
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