SVG Filter vs CSS Filter
Both SVG <filter> and CSS filter property create visual effects  but they work differently and have different capabilities and browser support.
Capability Comparison
SVG filters are more powerful; CSS filters are simpler to write.
| Effect | CSS filter | SVG <filter> |
|---|---|---|
| Blur | blur(5px) | feGaussianBlur |
| Drop shadow | drop-shadow(...) | feDropShadow |
| Brightness | brightness(1.5) | feComponentTransfer |
| Color matrix | âÂÂÂÅ’ Not available | feColorMatrix |
| Composite blend | âÂÂÂÅ’ Limited | feComposite + feBlend |
| Morphology | âÂÂÂÅ’ Not available | feMorphology (erode/dilate) |
| Turbulence/noise | âÂÂÂÅ’ Not available | feTurbulence + feDisplacementMap |
When to Use Each Approach
CSS filter is simpler; SVG filter is more powerful.
- Use CSS filter for: quick blur, brightness, contrast, drop-shadow on any HTML or SVG element
- Use SVG filter for: custom color matrices, duotone effects, glow effects, organic distortion
- CSS filter applies to entire elements including children
- SVG filter applies to the rendered result of the target element's paint
- Mix both: apply a CSS filter to an element that already has an SVG filter  they compose
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a duotone color effect with SVG filters?
Use feColorMatrix to desaturate (grayscale), then feComponentTransfer to map the grayscale values to two hue-shifted colors. This creates a duotone effect impossible with CSS filter alone.
Why does CSS filter: drop-shadow work better than box-shadow for SVG?
box-shadow adds shadow around the bounding box rectangle. filter: drop-shadow() calculates the shadow from the actual rendered alpha of the element, including transparent holes  perfect for SVG icons.
Can SVG filters be applied to HTML elements?
Yes  reference the SVG filter by ID in CSS: filter: url(#my-filter). The SVG containing the filter can be hidden (display:none or zero-size) and still be referenced by HTML elements on the page.
What's the performance difference between SVG and CSS filters?
CSS filter: composited on GPU  very performant. SVG filter with complex primitives (feTurbulence, feDisplacementMap): computed on CPU  can be expensive. Test performance with complex SVG filters before shipping.
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