SVG as an Image

SVG images can be used as an image format, in a number of contexts. Many browsers support SVG images in:

• HTML <img> or <svg> elements
• CSS background-image

Gecko-specific contexts

Additionally, Gecko 2.0 (Firefox 4 / Thunderbird 3.3 / SeaMonkey 2.1) introduced support for using SVG in these contexts:

• CSS list-style-image
• CSS content
• SVG <image> element
• SVG <feImage> element
• Canvas drawImage function

Restrictions

For security purposes, Gecko places some restrictions on SVG content when it's being used as an image:

• JavaScript is disabled.
• External resources (e.g. images, stylesheets) cannot be loaded, though they can be used if inlined through data: URIs.
• :visited-link styles aren't rendered.
• Platform-native widget styling (based on OS theme) is disabled.

Note that the above restrictions are specific to image contexts; they don't apply when SVG content is viewed directly, or when it's embedded as a document via the <iframe>, <object>, or <embed> elements.

Specifications

See also

• SVG in HTML introduction