path()

When used in offset-path or d:

path(<string>)

When used in clip-path:

path( [<fill-rule>,]? <string> )

<fill-rule> Optional

Defines what parts of the path are inside the shape. The possible values include:

• nonzero: A point is considered inside the shape if a ray drawn from the point crosses more left-to-right than right-to-left path segments, resulting in a non-zero count. This is the default value when <fill-rule> is omitted.
• evenodd: A point is considered to be inside the shape if a ray drawn from the point crosses an odd number of path segments. This means that for each time the ray enters the shape, it has not exited an equal number of times, indicating an odd count of entries without corresponding exits.

Warning: <fill-rule> is not supported in offset-path and using it invalidates the property.

<string>

A data string, contained in quotes, which defines an SVG path. The SVG path data string contains path commands that implicitly use pixel units. An empty path is considered invalid.

Returns a <basic-shape> value.

<path()> = 
path( <'fill-rule'>? , <string> )  

<fill-rule> = 
nonzero  |
evenodd  

A path() function has been provided as an offset-path value in the following example to create an elliptical path for a ball to move along.

<div id="path">
  <div id="ball"></div>
</div>
<button>animate</button>

#path {
  margin: 40px;
  width: 400px;
  height: 200px;

  /* draw the gray ramp */
  background: radial-gradient(at 50% 0%, transparent 70%, grey 70%, grey 100%);
}

#ball {
  width: 30px;
  height: 30px;
  background-color: red;
  border-radius: 50%;

  /* mark the elliptical path */
  offset-path: path("M 15 15 A 6 5.5 10 0 0 385 15");
}

const btn = document.querySelector("button");
const ball = document.getElementById("ball");

btn.addEventListener("click", () => {
  btn.setAttribute("disabled", true);
  setTimeout(() => btn.removeAttribute("disabled"), 6000);

  ball.animate(
    // animate the offset path
    { offsetDistance: [0, "100%"] },
    {
      duration: 1500,
      iterations: 4,
      easing: "cubic-bezier(.667,0.01,.333,.99)",
      direction: "alternate",
    },
  );
});

The path() can be used to modify the value of the SVG d attribute, which can also be set to none in your CSS.

The "V" symbol will flip vertically when you hover over it, if d is supported as a CSS property.

CSS

html,
body,
svg {
  height: 100%;
}

/* This path is displayed on hover*/
#svg_css_ex1:hover path {
  d: path("M20,80 L50,20 L80,80");
}

HTML

<svg id="svg_css_ex1" viewBox="0 0 100 100" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <path fill="none" stroke="red" d="M20,20 L50,80 L80,20" />
</svg>

Result

• <shape-outside>
• CSS Shapes
• Overview of CSS Shapes
• SVG Path Syntax Illustrated Guide