Canvas globalCompositeOperation Property
Example
Draw 2 rectangles. Red rectangles are destinations. Blue rectangles are sources:
JavaScript:
const canvas = document.getElementById("myCanvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
ctx.fillStyle = "red";
ctx.fillRect(20, 20, 75, 50);
ctx.globalCompositeOperation = "source-over";
ctx.fillStyle = "blue";
ctx.fillRect(50, 50, 75, 50);
ctx.fillStyle = "red";
ctx.fillRect(150, 20, 75, 50);
ctx.globalCompositeOperation = "destination-over";
ctx.fillStyle = "blue";
ctx.fillRect(180, 50, 75, 50);
Try it Yourself »
Description
The globalCompositeOperation property sets or returns how a source are
drawn over a destination.
Source = drawings you are about to draw on the canvas.
Destination = drawings that are already drawn on the canvas.
Syntax
| context.globalCompositeOperation = "value" |
Property Values
| Value | Description | Play it |
|---|---|---|
| source-over | Default Displays the source over the destination |
Play it » |
| source-atop | Displays the source on top of the destination. The part of the source image that is outside the destination is not shown | Play it » |
| source-in | Displays the source in the destination. Only the part of the source that is INSIDE the destination is shown, and the destination is transparent | Play it » |
| source-out | Displays the source out of the destination. Only the part of the source that is OUTSIDE the destination is shown, and the destination is transparent | Play it » |
| destination-over | Displays the destination over the source | Play it » |
| destination-atop | Displays the destination on top of the source. The part of the destination that is outside the source is not shown | Play it » |
| destination-in | Displays the destination in the source. Only the part of the destination that is INSIDE the source is shown, and the source is transparent | Play it » |
| destination-out | Displays the destination out of the source. Only the part of the destination that is OUTSIDE the source is shown, and the source is transparent | Play it » |
| lighter | Displays the source + the destination | Play it » |
| copy | Displays the source. The destination is ignored | Play it » |
| xor | The source is combined by using an exclusive OR with the destination | Play it » |
Browser Support
The <canvas> element is an HTML5 standard (2014).
globalCompositOperation is supported in all modern browsers:
| Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Opera | IE |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9-11 |
❮ Canvas Reference
