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SVG in HTML — All Ways to Use SVG on a Web Page

Learn every method for using SVG in HTML — from simple image tags to inline markup and CSS backgrounds. Get your SVG files ready with our free converter.

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Five Ways to Use SVG in HTML

HTML supports SVG in five distinct ways, each with different capabilities for styling, scripting, and accessibility. Choose based on whether you need CSS styling, JavaScript interaction, or just a simple static graphic.

  • <img src='icon.svg'> — simplest, not CSS-styleable
  • Inline SVG (<svg>...</svg>) — full CSS and JS access
  • <object data='icon.svg'> — external file with scripting support
  • <embed src='icon.svg'> — legacy approach, similar to object
  • CSS background-image: url(icon.svg) — great for decorative SVG

When to Use Each SVG Embedding Method

Use inline SVG when you need CSS animations, hover effects, or JavaScript interaction. Use <img> for simple logos and illustrations that don't need styling. Use CSS background-image for decorative patterns and icons that are styling concerns, not content. Inline SVG is the most powerful and most common approach for interactive web graphics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to add an SVG logo to an HTML page?

For logos, inline SVG gives you full control over color changes on hover, dark mode support, and animation. For static logos, <img src='logo.svg'> is simpler and easier to maintain.

How do I make SVG icons change color on hover?

Use inline SVG or SVG in a CSS mask. Set fill: currentColor on SVG paths, then control the color with CSS color property on a parent element.

Can I use an SVG as a CSS background image?

Yes: background-image: url('icon.svg'). This works for decorative use but you can't change SVG fill colors directly. Use CSS masks for colorable SVG backgrounds.

How do I make SVG accessible in HTML?

Add a <title> element inside inline SVG and aria-labelledby attribute pointing to the title id. For SVG in img tags, use a descriptive alt attribute.

Do all browsers support SVG in HTML?

Yes. All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) fully support SVG in HTML. SVG has had near-universal browser support since 2012.

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