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Basic SVG Operations in Python
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Use SVGDocument as the main entry point for basic SVG operations in Python. Create or load an SVG document, inspect the DOM, edit elements and attributes, save the result as SVG, or pass the document to conversion APIs when you need PDF, PNG, or another output format.
Work with SVG Documents in Python
Aspose.SVG for Python via .NET provides a DOM-based API for common SVG document tasks. These operations are the foundation for most workflows: creating SVG files, loading existing documents, adding or updating elements, inspecting document structure, finding nodes with selectors, and saving the result.
This section is a hub for the core document workflows. Use it to choose the article that matches your task, then move to the focused how-to page for complete Python examples.
- Create SVG File – This article explains how to create a blank SVG, parse SVG markup from a string, load SVG from a file, or load SVG from a URL.
- Edit SVG File – In this article, you will learn how to add elements, set attributes, find nodes, update shapes, and save the edited SVG.
- Work with SVG Attributes – This article explains how to get, set, check, remove, and update SVG element attributes.
- Save SVG File – You will learn how to save SVG to a file, URL path, stream workflow, or local storage with linked resources.
- Navigate SVG – This article explains how to read markup, inspect attributes, traverse the DOM, use CSS selectors, and run XPath queries.
Common SVG Workflow
A typical Python workflow starts with SVGDocument. You create or load the document, access the root <svg> element, find or create nodes, update attributes, and save the document. If the target output is not SVG, continue with the conversion APIs.
| Workflow stage | Main API | Related article |
|---|---|---|
| Create or load | SVGDocument | Create SVG File |
| Inspect structure | outer_html, get_elements_by_tag_name() | Navigate SVG |
| Find target elements | query_selector(), query_selector_all(), evaluate() | Navigate SVG |
| Read or update attributes | get_attribute(), set_attribute(), has_attribute(), remove_attribute() | Work with SVG Attributes |
| Edit content | create_element_ns(), set_attribute(), append_child() | Edit SVG File |
| Save as SVG | SVGDocument.save() | Save SVG File |
| Export to another format | Converter.convert_svg() | Convert SVG Files in Python |
When to Use Conversion Instead of Save
Use SVGDocument.save() when you want to keep the document as SVG. Use conversion APIs when you need a different output format such as PDF, PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF, GIF, or XPS. This distinction matters because saving preserves SVG markup, while conversion renders or exports the document to another format.
For export workflows, see Convert SVG Files in Python, Convert SVG to PDF in Python, and Convert SVG to PNG in Python.
Online SVG Applications
Aspose.SVG also provides free online SVG applications for quick tasks such as conversion, image vectorization, SVG merging, sprite generation, SVG to Base64 encoding, and text vectorization. Use them to test a workflow before implementing it in Python.
FAQ
What is the main class for working with SVG in Python?
SVGDocument is the main class for creating, loading, navigating, editing, and saving SVG documents.
How do I create or load an SVG file?
Use SVGDocument() to create a blank document, SVGDocument(svg_content, base_uri) for SVG markup stored in memory, or SVGDocument(path_or_url) for an existing SVG file or URL.
How do I edit SVG elements in Python?
Find or create SVG elements, update attributes with set_attribute(), add nodes with DOM methods, and save the document with SVGDocument.save().
How do I change SVG attributes in Python?
Use get_attribute(), set_attribute(), has_attribute(), and remove_attribute() on SVG elements, then save the edited document.
How do I find elements inside an SVG?
Use tag-name search, CSS selectors with query_selector() or query_selector_all(), or XPath queries with document.evaluate().
Should I save or convert an SVG document?
Save the document when the output should remain SVG. Convert it when you need PDF, PNG, JPG, or another non-SVG output format.
Related Articles
- Create SVG File explains how to create blank SVG documents and load SVG from files, strings, or URLs.
- Edit SVG File shows how to add elements, set attributes, and update SVG content.
- Work with SVG Attributes explains how to get, set, check, remove, and update SVG attributes.
- Save SVG File explains how to save SVG documents and linked resources.
- Navigate SVG explains how to inspect SVG and find elements with CSS selectors or XPath.
- Convert SVG Files in Python covers exporting SVG documents to PDF, PNG, JPG, and other formats.