In addition to text drawn in a straight line, SVG also includes the ability to place text along the shape of a <path> element. To specify that a block of text is to be rendered along the shape of a <path>, include the given text within a <textPath> element which includes an href attribute with a reference to a <path> element.
Usage context
| Categories | Text content element, Text content child element | 
|---|---|
| Permitted content | Character data and any number of the following elements, in any order: Descriptive elements <a>,<altGlyph>,<animate>,<animateColor>,<set>,<tref>,<tspan> | 
Attributes
Global attributes
- Conditional processing attributes »
- Core attributes »
- Graphical event attributes »
- Presentation attributes »
- Xlink attributes »
- class
- style
- externalResourcesRequired
Specific attributes
DOM Interface
This element implements the SVGTextPathElement interface.
Example
SVG
<svg viewBox="0 0 1000 300"
     xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" 
     xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
  <defs>
    <path id="MyPath"
          d="M 100 200 
             C 200 100 300   0 400 100
             C 500 200 600 300 700 200
             C 800 100 900 100 900 100" />
  </defs>
  <use xlink:href="#MyPath" fill="none" stroke="red"  />
  <text font-family="Verdana" font-size="42.5">
    <textPath xlink:href="#MyPath">
      We go up, then we go down, then up again
    </textPath>
  </text>
  <!-- Show outline of the viewport using 'rect' element -->
  <rect x="1" y="1" width="998" height="298"
        fill="none" stroke="black" stroke-width="2" />
</svg>
Result
Specifications
| Specification | Status | Comment | 
|---|---|---|
| Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2 The definition of '<textPath>' in that specification. | Candidate Recommendation | |
| Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 (Second Edition) The definition of '<textPath>' in that specification. | Recommendation | Initial definition | 
Browser compatibility
| Feature | Chrome | Edge | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | ? | 
| Feature | Android | Firefox Mobile (Gecko) | IE Phone | Opera Mobile | Safari Mobile | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |