CanvasRenderingContext2D: clip() method

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.

The CanvasRenderingContext2D.clip() method of the Canvas 2D API turns the current or given path into the current clipping region. The previous clipping region, if any, is intersected with the current or given path to create the new clipping region.

In the image below, the red outline represents a clipping region shaped like a star. Only those parts of the checkerboard pattern that are within the clipping region get drawn.

Star-shaped clipping region

Note: Be aware that the clipping region is only constructed from shapes added to the path. It doesn't work with shape primitives drawn directly to the canvas, such as fillRect(). Instead, you'd have to use rect() to add a rectangular shape to the path before calling clip().

Note: Clip paths cannot be reverted directly. You must save your canvas state using save() before calling clip(), and restore it once you have finished drawing in the clipped area using restore().

Syntax

clip()
clip(path)
clip(fillRule)
clip(path, fillRule)

Parameters

fillRule

The algorithm by which to determine if a point is inside or outside the clipping region. Possible values:

nonzero: The non-zero winding rule. Default rule.
evenodd: The even-odd winding rule.

path

A Path2D path to use as the clipping region.

Return value

None (undefined).

Examples

A simple clipping region

This example uses the clip() method to create a clipping region according to the shape of a circular arc. Two rectangles are then drawn; only those parts within the clipping region are rendered.

HTML

html

<canvas id="canvas"></canvas>

JavaScript

The clipping region is a full circle, with its center at (100, 75), and a radius of 50.

const canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");

// Create circular clipping region
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.arc(100, 75, 50, 0, Math.PI * 2);
ctx.clip();

// Draw stuff that gets clipped
ctx.fillStyle = "blue";
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);
ctx.fillStyle = "orange";
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, 100, 100);

Result

Specifying a path and a fillRule

This example saves two rectangles to a Path2D object, which is then made the current clipping region using the clip() method. The "evenodd" rule creates a hole where the clipping rectangles intersect; by default (with the "nonzero" rule), there would be no hole.

HTML

html

<canvas id="canvas"></canvas>

JavaScript

const canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");

// Create clipping path
let region = new Path2D();
region.rect(80, 10, 20, 130);
region.rect(40, 50, 100, 50);
ctx.clip(region, "evenodd");

// Draw stuff that gets clipped
ctx.fillStyle = "blue";
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);

Result

Creating a complex clipping region

This example uses two paths, a rectangle and a square to create a complex clipping region. The clip() method is called twice, first to set the current clipping region to the circle using a Path2D object, then again to intersect the circle clipping region with a square. The final clipping region is a shape representing the intersection of the circle and the square.

HTML

html

<canvas id="canvas"></canvas>

JavaScript

const canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");

// Create two clipping paths
let circlePath = new Path2D();
circlePath.arc(150, 75, 75, 0, 2 * Math.PI);
let squarePath = new Path2D();
squarePath.rect(85, 10, 130, 130);

// Set the clip to the circle
ctx.clip(circlePath);
// Set the clip to be the intersection of the circle and the square
ctx.clip(squarePath);

// Draw stuff that gets clipped
ctx.fillStyle = "blue";
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);

Result

Specifications

Specification
HTML Standard # dom-context-2d-clip-dev

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser