SVG Path Inspector

Parse an SVG <path d="..."> attribute and see each command broken out: type (M, L, C, Q, A, Z, etc.), points, control points. Useful for debugging path animations, understanding existing SVGs, or learning path syntax.

Render

Commands

How to use the SVG Path Inspector

Paste the contents of a d attribute. The renderer shows the path; the commands list breaks down each step. Drag M moves the pen; L lines to a point; C is a cubic Bezier; Q is quadratic; A is arc; Z closes the path.

Decoding the SVG path d attribute

The d attribute of an SVG <path> is a dense string of single-letter commands and numbers — M, L, C, Q, A, Z — that's almost unreadable at a glance. When a path animation misbehaves or you're trying to learn how a shape is built, you need that string broken into its individual steps.

This inspector parses the d attribute and lists every command with its points and control points, alongside a live render of the path. It turns an opaque string into a step-by-step account of how the pen moves, draws curves, and closes the shape. To rasterize the finished path, use SVG to PNG.

Common use cases

  • Debugging animations — inspect each command in a path being morphed.
  • Learning path syntax — see how commands build a shape step by step.
  • Reverse-engineering — understand a path copied from another SVG.
  • Spotting errors — find a malformed segment in a complex path.
  • Teaching — demonstrate how M, L, C, Q, A, and Z work.

Frequently asked questions

Which path commands does it parse?

All of them — moveto (M), lineto (L), cubic (C) and quadratic (Q) Beziers, arcs (A), closepath (Z), and their relative forms.

Does it show the rendered shape?

Yes. A live render sits beside the command list so you can match each step to what it draws.

Can it fix a broken path?

It identifies the commands so you can spot the problem, but editing is manual — it's a diagnostic tool, not an editor.

What's the difference between uppercase and lowercase commands?

Uppercase commands use absolute coordinates; lowercase use coordinates relative to the current point. The inspector lists each as it appears.
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