Path Markup Syntax

Article
02/06/2023

Paths are discussed in Shapes and Basic Drawing in WPF Overview and the Geometry Overview, however, this topic describes in detail the powerful and complex mini-language you can use to specify path geometries more compactly using Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML).

Prerequisites

To understand this topic, you should be familiar with the basic features of Geometry objects. For more information, see the Geometry Overview.

StreamGeometry and PathFigureCollection Mini-Languages

WPF provides two classes that provide mini-languages for describing geometric paths: StreamGeometry and PathFigureCollection.

You use the StreamGeometry mini-language when setting a property of type Geometry, such as the Clip property of a UIElement or the Data property of a Path element. The following example uses attribute syntax to create a StreamGeometry.
```
<Path Stroke="Black" Fill="Gray"
      Data="M 10,100 C 10,300 300,-200 300,100" />
```
You use the PathFigureCollection mini-language when setting the Figures property of a PathGeometry. The following example uses a attribute syntax to create a PathFigureCollection for a PathGeometry.
```
<Path Stroke="Black" Fill="Gray">
  <Path.Data>
    <PathGeometry Figures="M 10,100 C 10,300 300,-200 300,100" />
  </Path.Data>
</Path>
```

As you can see from the preceding examples, the two mini-languages are very similar. It's always possible to use a PathGeometry in any situation where you could use a StreamGeometry; so which one should you use? Use a StreamGeometry when you don't need to modify the path after creating it; use a PathGeometry if you do need to modify the path.

For more information about the differences between PathGeometry and StreamGeometry objects, see the Geometry Overview.

A Note about White Space

For brevity, a single space is shown in the syntax sections that follow, but multiple spaces are also acceptable wherever a single space is shown.

Two numbers don’t actually have to be separated by a comma or white space, but this can only be done when the resulting string is unambiguous. For instance, 2..3 is actually two numbers: "2." And ".3". Similarly, 2-3 is "2" and "-3". Spaces are not required before or after commands, either.

Syntax

The Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) attribute usage syntax for a StreamGeometry is composed of an optional FillRule value and one or more figure descriptions.

StreamGeometry XAML Attribute Usage
`<` object property `="`[ `fillRule`] `figureDescription`[ `figureDescription`]* `" ... />`

The Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) attribute usage syntax for a PathFigureCollection is composed of one or more figure descriptions.

PathFigureCollection XAML Attribute Usage
`<` object property `="` `figureDescription`[ `figureDescription`]* `" ... />`

Term	Description
fillRule	System.Windows.Media.FillRule Specifies whether the StreamGeometry uses the EvenOdd or Nonzero FillRule. - `F0` specifies the EvenOdd fill rule. - `F1` specifies the Nonzero fill rule. If you omit this command, the subpath uses the default behavior, which is EvenOdd. If you specify this command, you must place it first.
figureDescription	A figure composed of a move command, draw commands, and an optional close command. `moveCommand` `drawCommands` `[` `closeCommand` `]`
moveCommand	A move command that specifies the start point of the figure. See the Move Command section.
drawCommands	One or more drawing commands that describe the figure's contents. See the Draw Commands section.
closeCommand	An optional close command that closes figure. See the Close Command section.

Move Command

Specifies the start point of a new figure.

Syntax
`M` startPoint - or - `m` startPoint

Term	Description
startPoint	System.Windows.Point The start point of a new figure.

An uppercase M indicates that startPoint is an absolute value; a lowercase m indicates that startPoint is an offset to the previous point, or (0,0) if none exists. If you list multiple points after the move command, a line is drawn to those points though you specified the line command.

Draw Commands

A draw command can consist of several shape commands. The following shape commands are available: line, horizontal line, vertical line, cubic Bezier curve, quadratic Bezier curve, smooth cubic Bezier curve, smooth quadratic Bezier curve, and elliptical arc.

You enter each command by using either an uppercase or a lowercase letter: uppercase letters denote absolute values and lowercase letters denote relative values: the control points for that segment are relative to the end point of the preceding example.

Tip

When sequentially entering more than one command of the same type, you can omit the duplicate command entry; for example, L 100,200 300,400 is equivalent to L 100,200 L 300,400.

Line Command

Creates a straight line between the current point and the specified end point. l 20 30 and L 20,30 are examples of valid line commands.

Syntax
`L` endPoint - or - `l` endPoint

Term	Description
endPoint	System.Windows.Point The end point of the line.

An uppercase L indicates that endPoint is an absolute value; a lowercase l indicates that endPoint is an offset to the previous point, or (0,0) if none exists.

Horizontal Line Command

Creates a horizontal line between the current point and the specified x-coordinate. H 90 is an example of a valid horizontal line command.

Syntax
`H` x - or - `h` x

Term	Description
x	System.Double The x-coordinate of the end point of the line.

An uppercase H indicates that x is an absolute value; a lowercase h indicates that x is an offset to the previous point, or (0,0) if none exists.

Vertical Line Command

Creates a vertical line between the current point and the specified y-coordinate. v 90 is an example of a valid vertical line command.

Syntax
`V` y - or - `v` y

Term	Description
y	System.Double The y-coordinate of the end point of the line.

An uppercase V indicates that y is an absolute value; a lowercase v indicates that y is an offset to the previous point, or (0,0) if none exists.

Cubic Bezier Curve Command

Creates a cubic Bezier curve between the current point and the specified end point by using the two specified control points (controlPoint1 and controlPoint2). C 100,200 200,400 300,200 is an example of a valid curve command.

Syntax
`C` `controlPoint`1`controlPoint`2`endPoint` - or - `c` `controlPoint`1`controlPoint`2`endPoint`

Term	Description
`controlPoint`1	System.Windows.Point The first control point of the curve, which determines the starting tangent of the curve.
`controlPoint`2	System.Windows.Point The second control point of the curve, which determines the ending tangent of the curve.
`endPoint`	System.Windows.Point The point to which the curve is drawn.

Quadratic Bezier Curve Command

Creates a quadratic Bezier curve between the current point and the specified end point by using the specified control point (controlPoint). q 100,200 300,200 is an example of a valid quadratic Bezier curve command.

Syntax
`Q` `controlPoint` `endPoint` - or - `q` `controlPoint` `endPoint`

Term	Description
`controlPoint`	System.Windows.Point The control point of the curve, which determines the starting and ending tangents of the curve.
`endPoint`	System.Windows.Point The point to which the curve is drawn.

Smooth cubic Bezier curve Command

Creates a cubic Bezier curve between the current point and the specified end point. The first control point is assumed to be the reflection of the second control point of the previous command relative to the current point. If there is no previous command or if the previous command was not a cubic Bezier curve command or a smooth cubic Bezier curve command, assume the first control point is coincident with the current point. The second control point, the control point for the end of the curve, is specified by controlPoint2. For example, S 100,200 200,300 is a valid smooth cubic Bezier curve command.

Syntax
`S` `controlPoint`2`endPoint` - or - `s` `controlPoint`2`endPoint`

Term	Description
`controlPoint`2	System.Windows.Point The control point of the curve, which determines the ending tangent of the curve.
`endPoint`	System.Windows.Point The point to which the curve is drawn.

Smooth quadratic Bezier curve Command

Creates a quadratic Bezier curve between the current point and the specified end point. The control point is assumed to be the reflection of the control point of the previous command relative to the current point. If there is no previous command or if the previous command was not a quadratic Bezier curve command or a smooth quadratic Bezier curve command, the control point is coincident with the current point.

Syntax
`T` `endPoint` - or - `t` `endPoint`

Term	Description
`endPoint`	System.Windows.Point The point to which the curve is drawn.

Elliptical Arc Command

Creates an elliptical arc between the current point and the specified end point.

Syntax
`A` `size` `rotationAngle` `isLargeArcFlag` `sweepDirectionFlag` `endPoint` - or - `a` `size` `rotationAngle` `isLargeArcFlag` `sweepDirectionFlag` `endPoint`

Term	Description
`size`	System.Windows.Size The x- and y-radius of the arc.
`rotationAngle`	System.Double The rotation of the ellipse, in degrees.
`isLargeArcFlag`	Set to 1 if the angle of the arc should be 180 degrees or greater; otherwise, set to 0.
`sweepDirectionFlag`	Set to 1 if the arc is drawn in a positive-angle direction; otherwise, set to 0.
`endPoint`	System.Windows.Point The point to which the arc is drawn.

The Close Command

Ends the current figure and creates a line that connects the current point to the starting point of the figure. This command creates a line-join (corner) between the last segment and the first segment of the figure.

Syntax
`Z` - or - `z`

Point Syntax

Describes the x- and y-coordinates of a point where (0,0) is the top left corner.

Syntax
`x` `,` `y` - or - `x` `y`

Term	Description
`x`	System.Double The x-coordinate of the point.
`y`	System.Double The y-coordinate of the point.

Special Values

Instead of a standard numerical value, you can also use the following special values. These values are case-sensitive.

Infinity
Represents Double.PositiveInfinity.

-Infinity
Represents Double.NegativeInfinity.

NaN
Represents Double.NaN.

You may also use scientific notation. For example, +1.e17 is a valid value.

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