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How to Put Text on a Path in SVG — Curved Text Guide

Use SVG textPath to curve text around circles, arcs, and custom shapes — no Photoshop or Illustrator required.

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Using SVG textPath Element

The SVG `<textPath>` element links text to any `<path>` definition, flowing glyphs along its curve. Define a `<path>` in `<defs>`, then reference it with `xlink:href` or `href` on `<textPath>`.

  • Define path in <defs> with a unique id
  • Wrap text in <textPath href='#pathId'>
  • Use startOffset to position text along the path

Common Curved Text Examples

Circle text uses an elliptical arc path. Wave text uses a cubic bezier curve. Badge arched text uses a simple arc from left to right along the top of a circle.

  • Circle text: arc path connecting two endpoints
  • Wave text: cubic bezier S or C command
  • Badge top arch: arc with large-arc-flag=1

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I center text on an SVG path?

Set startOffset='50%' and text-anchor='middle' on the textPath element to center text along the path.

Does SVG textPath work in all browsers?

Yes — textPath is supported in all modern browsers. Use href instead of xlink:href for modern SVG specs.

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