CanvasRenderingContext2D: createLinearGradient() method

The CanvasRenderingContext2D.createLinearGradient() method of the Canvas 2D API creates a gradient along the line connecting two given coordinates.

The gradient transitions colors along the gradient line, starting at point x0, y0 and going to x1, y1, even if those points extend the gradient line beyond the edges of the element on which the gradient is drawn.

This method returns a linear CanvasGradient. To be applied to a shape, the gradient must first be assigned to the fillStyle or strokeStyle properties.

Note: Gradient coordinates are global, i.e., relative to the current coordinate space. When applied to a shape, the coordinates are NOT relative to the shape's coordinates.

Syntax

js

createLinearGradient(x0, y0, x1, y1)

The createLinearGradient() method is specified by four parameters defining the start and end points of the gradient line.

Parameters

x0

The x-axis coordinate of the start point.

y0

The y-axis coordinate of the start point.

x1

The x-axis coordinate of the end point.

y1

The y-axis coordinate of the end point.

Return value

A linear CanvasGradient initialized with the specified line.

Exceptions

NotSupportedError DOMException

Thrown when non-finite values are passed as parameters.

Examples

Filling a rectangle with a linear gradient

This example initializes a linear gradient using the createLinearGradient() method. Three color stops between the gradient's start and end points are then created. Finally, the gradient is assigned to the canvas context, and is rendered to a filled rectangle.

HTML

html

<canvas id="canvas"></canvas>

JavaScript

js

const canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");

// Create a linear gradient
// The start gradient point is at x=20, y=0
// The end gradient point is at x=220, y=0
const gradient = ctx.createLinearGradient(20, 0, 220, 0);

// Add three color stops
gradient.addColorStop(0, "green");
gradient.addColorStop(0.5, "cyan");
gradient.addColorStop(1, "green");

// Set the fill style and draw a rectangle
ctx.fillStyle = gradient;
ctx.fillRect(20, 20, 200, 100);

Result

Specifications

Specification
HTML Standard
# dom-context-2d-createlineargradient-dev

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also