<use>

The use element takes nodes from within the SVG document, and duplicates them somewhere else. The effect is the same as if the nodes were deeply cloned into a non-exposed DOM, and then pasted where the use element is, much like cloned template elements in HTML5. Since the cloned nodes are not exposed, care must be taken when using CSS to style a use element and its hidden descendants. CSS attributes are not guaranteed to be inherited by the hidden, cloned DOM unless you explicitly request it using CSS inheritance.

For security reasons, some browsers could apply a same-origin policy on use elements and could refuse to load a cross-origin URI within the xlink:href attribute.

Usage context

CategoriesGraphics element, Graphics referencing element, Structural element
Permitted contentAny number of the following elements, in any order:
Animation elements
Descriptive elements

Example

<svg width="100%" height="100%" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
  <style>
    .classA { fill:red }
  </style> 
  <defs>
    <g id="Port">
      <circle style="fill:inherit" r="10"/>
    </g>
  </defs>
 
  <text y="15">black</text>
  <use x="50" y="10" xlink:href="#Port" />
  <text y="35">red</text>
  <use x="50" y="30" xlink:href="#Port" class="classA"/>
  <text y="55">blue</text>
  <use x="50" y="50" xlink:href="#Port" style="fill:blue"/>
 </svg>

 

Attributes

Global attributes

Specific attributes

DOM Interface

This element implements the SVGUseElement interface.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2
The definition of '<use>' in that specification.
Working Draft  
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 (Second Edition)
The definition of '<use>' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)
Load from external URI (Yes) (Yes) Not supported (Yes) (Yes)
Load from data: URI ? 10.0 (10.0) ? ? ?
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) ? (Yes) (Yes)
Load from external URI (Yes) (Yes) ? (Yes) (Yes)
Load from data: URI (Yes) (Yes) ? (Yes) (Yes)

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: Sebastianz,