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web api instance method

CanvasRenderingContext2D: setLineDash() method

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The setLineDash() method of the Canvas 2D API’s CanvasRenderingContext2D interface sets the line dash pattern used when stroking lines. It uses an array of values that specify alternating lengths of lines and gaps which describe the pattern.

[!NOTE] To return to using solid lines, set the line dash list to an empty array.

Syntax

setLineDash(segments)

Parameters

  • segments
    • : An Array of numbers that specify distances to alternately draw a line and a gap (in coordinate space units). If the number of elements in the array is odd, the elements of the array get copied and concatenated. For example, [5, 15, 25] will become [5, 15, 25, 5, 15, 25]. If the array is empty, the line dash list is cleared and line strokes return to being solid.

Return value

None (undefined).

Examples

Basic example

This example uses the setLineDash() method to draw a dashed line above a solid line.

HTML

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

JavaScript

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

// Dashed line
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.setLineDash([5, 15]);
ctx.moveTo(0, 50);
ctx.lineTo(300, 50);
ctx.stroke();

// Solid line
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.setLineDash([]);
ctx.moveTo(0, 100);
ctx.lineTo(300, 100);
ctx.stroke();

Result

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Some common patterns

This example illustrates a variety of common line dash patterns.

HTML

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

JavaScript

The drawDashedLine() function created below makes the drawing of multiple dashed lines simple. It receives a pattern array as its only parameter.

const canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
let y = 15;

function drawDashedLine(pattern) {
  ctx.beginPath();
  ctx.setLineDash(pattern);
  ctx.moveTo(0, y);
  ctx.lineTo(300, y);
  ctx.stroke();
  y += 20;
}

drawDashedLine([]);
drawDashedLine([1, 1]);
drawDashedLine([10, 10]);
drawDashedLine([20, 5]);
drawDashedLine([15, 3, 3, 3]);
drawDashedLine([20, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3]);
drawDashedLine([12, 3, 3]); // Equals [12, 3, 3, 12, 3, 3]

Result

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Specifications

SpecificationsStandards references are available on the canonical MDN page.

Browser compatibility

Browser compatibilityCompatibility data is available on the canonical MDN page.

See also