CanvasRenderingContext2D: ellipse() method

The CanvasRenderingContext2D.ellipse() method of the Canvas 2D API adds an elliptical arc to the current sub-path.

Syntax

ellipse(x, y, radiusX, radiusY, rotation, startAngle, endAngle)
ellipse(x, y, radiusX, radiusY, rotation, startAngle, endAngle, counterclockwise)

The ellipse() method creates an elliptical arc centered at (x, y) with the radii radiusX and radiusY. The path starts at startAngle and ends at endAngle, and travels in the direction given by counterclockwise (defaulting to clockwise).

Parameters

• x
  • : The x-axis (horizontal) coordinate of the ellipse’s center.
• y
  • : The y-axis (vertical) coordinate of the ellipse’s center.
• radiusX
  • : The ellipse’s major-axis radius. Must be non-negative.
• radiusY
  • : The ellipse’s minor-axis radius. Must be non-negative.
• rotation
  • : The rotation of the ellipse, expressed in radians.
• startAngle
  • : The eccentric angle at which the ellipse starts, measured clockwise from the positive x-axis and expressed in radians.
• endAngle
  • : The eccentric angle at which the ellipse ends, measured clockwise from the positive x-axis and expressed in radians.
• counterclockwise Optional
  • : An optional boolean value which, if true, draws the ellipse counterclockwise (anticlockwise). The default value is false (clockwise).

Return value

None (undefined).

Examples

Drawing a full ellipse

This example draws an ellipse at an angle of π/4 radians (45°). To make a full ellipse, the arc begins at an angle of 0 radians (0°), and ends at an angle of 2π radians (360°).

HTML

<canvas id="canvas" width="200" height="200"></canvas>

JavaScript

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

// Draw the ellipse
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.ellipse(100, 100, 50, 75, Math.PI / 4, 0, 2 * Math.PI);
ctx.stroke();

// Draw the ellipse's line of reflection
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.setLineDash([5, 5]);
ctx.moveTo(0, 200);
ctx.lineTo(200, 0);
ctx.stroke();

Result

Various elliptical arcs

This example creates three elliptical paths with varying properties.

HTML

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

JavaScript

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

ctx.fillStyle = "red";
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.ellipse(60, 75, 50, 30, Math.PI * 0.25, 0, Math.PI * 1.5);
ctx.fill();

ctx.fillStyle = "blue";
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.ellipse(150, 75, 50, 30, Math.PI * 0.25, 0, Math.PI);
ctx.fill();

ctx.fillStyle = "green";
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.ellipse(240, 75, 50, 30, Math.PI * 0.25, 0, Math.PI, true);
ctx.fill();

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• The interface defining this method: CanvasRenderingContext2D
• Use arc() to draw a circular arc