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
drawImagefunction
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
| Specification | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| HTML5 The definition of 'SVG within <img> element' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Defines the usage of SVG within <img> elements. |
| CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3 The definition of 'SVG within 'background-image' CSS property' in that specification. |
Candidate Recommendation | Defines the usage of SVG within the background-image property. |
Browser compatibility
We're converting our compatibility data into a machine-readable JSON format. This compatibility table still uses the old format, because we haven't yet converted the data it contains. Find out how you can help!
| Feature | Chrome | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
in HTML <img> |
4.0 | 4.0 (2) | 9 | 9.0 | 4 |
| in CSS background | 4.0 | 4.0 (2) | 9 | 9.5 | 5 |
| in other contexts | ? | 4.0 (2) | ? | ? | ? |
| Feature | Android | Firefox Mobile (Gecko) | IE Mobile | Opera Mobile | Safari Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
in HTML <img> |
3.0 | 4.0 (2) | ? | 10.0 | 4.0 |
| in CSS background | 3.0 | 4.0 (2) | ? | 10.0 | 3.2[1] |
| in other contexts | ? | 4.0 (2) | ? | ? | ? |
[1] Safari Mobile only has partial support for SVG in CSS backgrounds.