CanvasRenderingContext2D: clip() method - Web APIs | MDN

CanvasRenderingContext2D: clip() method - Web APIs | MDN
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CanvasRenderingContext2D: clip() method
Baseline
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This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.
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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.
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
js
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
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

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

JavaScript
js
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 circle 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

JavaScript
js
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
# dom-context-2d-clip-dev
Browser compatibility
See also
The interface defining this method:
CanvasRenderingContext2D
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This page was last modified on
Jan 1, 2026
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