HTML Canvas vs SVG Explained: Graphics, Animations & Use Cases

Canvas & SVG in HTML: Graphics, Charts and Visual Elements

Is post me hum HTML ke ek powerful but often ignored part ko cover karenge: graphics and visuals.

Professional websites sirf text nahi hoti. Dashboards, charts, animations, icons, games — sab yahin se aate hain.

In this lesson, you will learn: what Canvas and SVG are, how they work, and when to use which one.

What You Will Learn

• What HTML Canvas is
• How SVG works
• Canvas vs SVG (real differences)
• Real-world use cases

What Is HTML Canvas?

Canvas is an HTML element that allows you to draw graphics using JavaScript.

Canvas is like a blank sheet. Once you draw something, it becomes pixels.

Syntax:

<canvas width="300" height="150"></canvas>

Live Example: Drawing on Canvas

<canvas id="myCanvas" width="300" height="150" style="border:1px solid #ccc;"></canvas> <script> const canvas = document.getElementById("myCanvas"); const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d"); ctx.fillStyle = "blue"; ctx.fillRect(50, 30, 200, 80); </script>

This example uses JavaScript to draw a rectangle. Without JavaScript, canvas does nothing.

Real-World Uses of Canvas

• Games
• Charts & graphs
• Image editing tools
• Real-time animations

Info!
Canvas is pixel-based. Once drawn, elements cannot be individually selected.

What Is SVG?

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an XML-based graphic format. Unlike canvas, SVG elements remain independent and editable.

SVG is resolution-independent, which means it looks sharp on all screens.

Basic SVG example:

<svg width="300" height="150"> <circle cx="150" cy="75" r="50" fill="green" /> </svg>

Here, the circle is an actual DOM element. You can style it using CSS or control it using JavaScript.

Real-World Uses of SVG

• Icons and logos
• Charts and diagrams
• UI animations
• Responsive illustrations

Info!
SVG elements can be searched, indexed and styled.

Canvas vs SVG (Very Important)

• Canvas → Pixel-based
• SVG → Vector-based
• Canvas → Faster for heavy animations
• SVG → Better for icons and UI graphics

Simple rule:

• Use Canvas for performance-heavy visuals
• Use SVG for UI, icons and scalable graphics

Common Mistakes

• Using canvas for simple icons
• Using SVG for complex games
• Forgetting accessibility in SVG

Accessibility Tip

Always add text alternatives:

<svg aria-label="Sales chart"></svg>

Canvas content should be supported with text descriptions.

What You Learned

• How Canvas works
• How SVG works
• Canvas vs SVG differences
• When to use each

🎉 Great job!
You’ve successfully completed Beginner Post #8. Consistency is what turns beginners into pros. Practice daily, then move ahead with confidence.

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