What is SVG? The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. Unlike standard image formats like JPEG or PNG, which are made up of pixels, SVGs are made up of vectors—mathematical descriptions of lines, curves, and shapes.

Pixels vs. Vectors: What's the Difference?

Imagine drawing a circle on a grid of graph paper by filling in squares. This is how a raster image (like a flexible JPEG) works. If you zoom in close enough, you'll see the individual squares (pixels), and the edges will look jagged.

Now imagine describing that same circle with a math formula: "Draw a circle with a radius of 5cm at these coordinates." This is a vector image. No matter how much you zoom in or how big you print it, the computer just recalculates the formula, so the lines stay perfectly smooth and crisp.

Why Should You Use SVGs?

  • Infinite Scalability: SVGs look sharp on everything from a smartwatch to a billboard.
  • Small File Size: Because they are just text code, simple SVGs are often tiny (mere kilobytes) compared to high-res images.
  • Editable Code: You can open an SVG file in a text editor and change colors or shapes directly in the code.
  • Animation & Interactivity: You can use CSS and JavaScript to animate individual parts of an SVG, making them perfect for interactive web icons.

When to Use SVGs

SVGs are perfect for:

✅ Logos and Icons

Branding assets that need to look sharp at any size.

✅ Simple Illustrations

Flat illustrations, diagrams, and charts.

❌ Photographs

Complex photos with thousands of colors are better as JPEGs or WebP.

How to Use SVGs in Web Development

There are two main ways to use SVGs on a website:

1. As an Image Source

<img src="logo.svg" alt="Company Logo" />

Good for simple static images. You can't change colors with CSS this way.

2. Inline SVG

<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100">...</svg>

Paste the SVG code directly into your HTML. This gives you full control to style it with CSS (e.g., changing fill on hover).