How to use SVGs in React

Editor’s note: This article was last updated on 12 December 2022 to add a section about how to inject SVGs to the DOM using the react-svg component, as well as ensuring compatibility with the latest version of react-svg (12.1.13 at the time of writing).

SVG is a vector graphics image format based on XML. SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It was developed in the late 1990s and was poorly supported until around 2016.

Today, a huge percentage of icon libraries, such as Flaticon, Font Awesome, Material Icon, etc., have full support for SVG. Brands such as Twitter, YouTube, Udacity, Netflix, and more use SVG for some of their images and icons.

We’ll cover the following:

• Why use SVG over other image formats?
• How to use SVGs in React
  • Using the <img> tag for static SVGs
  • Using the <svg> element
  • Using an SVG as a component
  • Using SVGR
  • Using SVG as a Data URL
  • Injecting SVG to the DOM using react-svg
  • How to animate SVGs in React

Why use SVG over other image formats?

You’re probably more familiar with image formats like JPEG, GIFs, and PNG than you are with SVG. However, there are many reasons why you’d want to use SVG over these other formats. Let’s look at some advantages that SVGs have over other image formats:

• Scalability and resolution: This is the utmost advantage that SVG has over other formats. SVG uses shapes, numbers, and coordinates instead of pixel grids like other image formats do. This makes it possible to zoom in and out of SVG images without losing quality and gives SVG the ability to scale infinitely
• Small file size: SVG file sizes are usually small compared to other file formats, and they are easily compressible, which allows for their sizes to be even smaller
• High performance and speed: Because of their small size, SVG images are very easy and fast for browsers to render. It’s like rendering text compared to rendering pixels and colors for other image formats. Also, if you use inline SVG in your code, the browser does not have to make a request to get the image and renders it just like all the other code in your file. In this case, no request was made. But in a situation where you have a complex image SVG file, such as the Mona Lisa photo, I would suggest using PNGs or JPEGs as the load time and performance for SVGs can fall drastically
• DOM-like, style-able, and editable: SVG images are like code, so this means they can be navigated like a DOM element and also styled. Some properties will have different names. However, you might want to use fill instead of color, for example. You can also style SVG with CSS. Likewise, because SVGs are DOM-like, SVGs can be created, edited, and animated with any text editor
• Animatable: SVGs can be animated. This can be done with tools like Web Animation APIs, WebGL, CSS animations, etc. Read more about animating SVG with CSS in this detailed post
• Ease of integration: SVGs can be used in various ways: they can display logo images and icons, graphs, animations, effects, and more
• Accessibility and SEO: SVGs contain text, which improves accessibility. It also means they can be searched, indexed, scripted, etc.

How to use SVGs in React

Below we’ll go through various ways we can use or render this React SVG logo on a webpage.
It is worth noting that Create React App has a built-in configuration for handling SVGs. Some of the examples in this article that require modifying the webpack setup are applicable only to custom React projects using webpack as a bundler.

You may need different plugins if you don’t use webpack for your custom React project.

Using the <img> tag for static SVGs

In order to use SVGs or any other image format in the <img> tag, we have to set up a file loader system in whichever module bundler we’re using. Here, I will show you how to set it up in a few steps if you are already using webpack as your bundler.

If you are using webpack 4, first install the file-loader library with the command $ npm install file-loader --save-dev. This will install it as a dev dependency.

You can update your webpack configuration file rules with this code:

const webpack = require('webpack');

module.exports = {
  entry: './src/index.js',
  module: {
    rules: [
      //...
      {
        test: /\.(png|jp(e*)g|svg|gif)$/,
        use: [
          {
            loader: 'file-loader',
            options: {
              name: 'images/[hash]-[name].[ext]',
            },
          },
        ],
      },
    ],
  },
  //...
};

However, the file-loader library is deprecated if you are using webpack 5. Use asset modules instead. With asset modules, you can use asset files in your project setup without installing additional loaders. Update the rules field of your webpack configuration file to include the following:

module.exports = {
  entry: "./src/index.js",
  module: {
    rules: [
      //...
      {
        test: /\.(png|jp(e*)g|svg|gif)$/,
        type: "asset/resource",
      },
    ],
  },
  //...
};

Now you can import your SVG and use it as a variable, like this:

import React from 'react';
{/*images*/}
import ReactLogo from './logo.svg';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <div className="App">
      <img src={ReactLogo} alt="React Logo" />
    </div>
  );
}
export default App;

Using the <svg> element

With the same webpack settings above, we can use the <svg> element by copying and pasting the contents of the .svg file into our code. Here is a sample use case:

import React from 'react';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <div className="App">
      <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 841.9 595.3">
        <g fill="#61DAFB">
          <path d="M666.3 296.5c0-32.5-40.7-63.3-103.1-82.4 14.4-63.6 8-114.2-20.2-130.4-6.5-3.8-14.1-5.6-22.4-5.6v22.3c4.6 0 8.3.9 11.4 2.6 13.6 7.8 19.5 37.5 14.9 75.7-1.1 9.4-2.9 19.3-5.1 29.4-19.6-4.8-41-8.5-63.5-10.9-13.5-18.5-27.5-35.3-41.6-50 32.6-30.3 63.2-46.9 84-46.9V78c-27.5 0-63.5 19.6-99.9 53.6-36.4-33.8-72.4-53.2-99.9-53.2v22.3c20.7 0 51.4 16.5 84 46.6-14 14.7-28 31.4-41.3 49.9-22.6 2.4-44 6.1-63.6 11-2.3-10-4-19.7-5.2-29-4.7-38.2 1.1-67.9 14.6-75.8 3-1.8 6.9-2.6 11.5-2.6V78.5c-8.4 0-16 1.8-22.6 5.6-28.1 16.2-34.4 66.7-19.9 130.1-62.2 19.2-102.7 49.9-102.7 82.3 0 32.5 40.7 63.3 103.1 82.4-14.4 63.6-8 114.2 20.2 130.4 6.5 3.8 14.1 5.6 22.5 5.6 27.5 0 63.5-19.6 99.9-53.6 36.4 33.8 72.4 53.2 99.9 53.2 8.4 0 16-1.8 22.6-5.6 28.1-16.2 34.4-66.7 19.9-130.1 62-19.1 102.5-49.9 102.5-82.3zm-130.2-66.7c-3.7 12.9-8.3 26.2-13.5 39.5-4.1-8-8.4-16-13.1-24-4.6-8-9.5-15.8-14.4-23.4 14.2 2.1 27.9 4.7 41 7.9zm-45.8 106.5c-7.8 13.5-15.8 26.3-24.1 38.2-14.9 1.3-30 2-45.2 2-15.1 0-30.2-.7-45-1.9-8.3-11.9-16.4-24.6-24.2-38-7.6-13.1-14.5-26.4-20.8-39.8 6.2-13.4 13.2-26.8 20.7-39.9 7.8-13.5 15.8-26.3 24.1-38.2 14.9-1.3 30-2 45.2-2 15.1 0 30.2.7 45 1.9 8.3 11.9 16.4 24.6 24.2 38 7.6 13.1 14.5 26.4 20.8 39.8-6.3 13.4-13.2 26.8-20.7 39.9zm32.3-13c5.4 13.4 10 26.8 13.8 39.8-13.1 3.2-26.9 5.9-41.2 8 4.9-7.7 9.8-15.6 14.4-23.7 4.6-8 8.9-16.1 13-24.1zM421.2 430c-9.3-9.6-18.6-20.3-27.8-32 9 .4 18.2.7 27.5.7 9.4 0 18.7-.2 27.8-.7-9 11.7-18.3 22.4-27.5 32zm-74.4-58.9c-14.2-2.1-27.9-4.7-41-7.9 3.7-12.9 8.3-26.2 13.5-39.5 4.1 8 8.4 16 13.1 24 4.7 8 9.5 15.8 14.4 23.4zM420.7 163c9.3 9.6 18.6 20.3 27.8 32-9-.4-18.2-.7-27.5-.7-9.4 0-18.7.2-27.8.7 9-11.7 18.3-22.4 27.5-32zm-74 58.9c-4.9 7.7-9.8 15.6-14.4 23.7-4.6 8-8.9 16-13 24-5.4-13.4-10-26.8-13.8-39.8 13.1-3.1 26.9-5.8 41.2-7.9zm-90.5 125.2c-35.4-15.1-58.3-34.9-58.3-50.6 0-15.7 22.9-35.6 58.3-50.6 8.6-3.7 18-7 27.7-10.1 5.7 19.6 13.2 40 22.5 60.9-9.2 20.8-16.6 41.1-22.2 60.6-9.9-3.1-19.3-6.5-28-10.2zM310 490c-13.6-7.8-19.5-37.5-14.9-75.7 1.1-9.4 2.9-19.3 5.1-29.4 19.6 4.8 41 8.5 63.5 10.9 13.5 18.5 27.5 35.3 41.6 50-32.6 30.3-63.2 46.9-84 46.9-4.5-.1-8.3-1-11.3-2.7zm237.2-76.2c4.7 38.2-1.1 67.9-14.6 75.8-3 1.8-6.9 2.6-11.5 2.6-20.7 0-51.4-16.5-84-46.6 14-14.7 28-31.4 41.3-49.9 22.6-2.4 44-6.1 63.6-11 2.3 10.1 4.1 19.8 5.2 29.1zm38.5-66.7c-8.6 3.7-18 7-27.7 10.1-5.7-19.6-13.2-40-22.5-60.9 9.2-20.8 16.6-41.1 22.2-60.6 9.9 3.1 19.3 6.5 28.1 10.2 35.4 15.1 58.3 34.9 58.3 50.6-.1 15.7-23 35.6-58.4 50.6zM320.8 78.4z"/>
          <circle cx="420.9" cy="296.5" r="45.7"/>
          <path d="M520.5 78.1z"/>
        </g>
      </svg>
    </div>
  );
}
export default App;

You can likely already see the disadvantage of using this method. When the image is more complex, the SVG file becomes larger, and because SVG is stored in text, that means we have a whole bunch of text in our code.

Using an SVG as a component

SVGs can be imported and used directly as a React component in your React code. The image is not loaded as a separate file; rather, it’s rendered along with the HTML. A sample use case would look like this:

import React from 'react';
import {ReactComponent as ReactLogo} from './logo.svg';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <div className="App">
      <ReactLogo />
    </div>
  );
}
export default App;

Note that this approach only works with Create React App. CRA uses SVGR under the hood to make it possible to transform and import an SVG as a React component. If you’re not using Create React App, I would recommend using other approaches.

Using SVGR

SVGR is an awesome tool that converts your SVGs into React components. So how do we set it up?

First, install the package by running the command $ npm install @svgr/webpack --save-dev. Then, update your webpack configuration rule to use SVGR for SVGs:

const webpack = require('webpack');

module.exports = {
  entry: './src/index.js',
  module: {
    rules: [
      //...
      {
        test: /\.svg$/,
        use: ['@svgr/webpack'],
      },
    ],
  },
  //...
};

Now you can import SVG images as React components and use them in our code like so:

import React from 'react';
import ReactLogo from './logo.svg';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <div className="App">
      <ReactLogo />
    </div>
  );
}
export default App;

Using SVG as a Data URL

Data URLs are URLs prefixed with the data: scheme, which allows content creators to embed small files inline in documents. You can read more about them in the MDN web docs. This approach allows us to use SVG images like an inline element.

How do you achieve this? First, you’ll need an appropriate loader if you are using webpack. For this use case, I’ll use svg-url-loader. You can add it your project by running the command $ npm install svg-url-loader --save-dev.

Then, update the webpack configuration file rules section with the following:

const webpack = require('webpack');

module.exports = {
  entry: './src/index.js',
  module: {
    rules: [
      //...
      {
        test: /\.svg$/,
        use: [
          {
            loader: 'svg-url-loader',
            options: {
              limit: 10000,
            },
          },
        ],
      },
    ],
  },
  //...
};

Now you can import your SVG file and use it in your React component like this:

import ReactLogo from './logo.svg';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <div className="App">
      <img src={ReactLogo} alt="React Logo" />
    </div>
  );
}

<img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg..." alt="React Logo" />

This usually results in something like this in the DOM:

<img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg..." alt="React Logo" />

Injecting SVG to the DOM using react-svg

Adding SVG markup directly in your React component increases its file size, making it hard to maintain. Despite this limitation, using inline SVG comes with its advantages. You can easily apply CSS styles to the SVG markup when you embed it inline compared to using the img tag.

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To leverage the benefits of embedding SVGs inline without worrying about the maintainability of your component, you can use the react-svg package. It fetches the SVG asynchronously and embeds it inline.

You can install it from the NPM package registry like so:

npm install react-svg

You can then import the ReactSVG component and render it in your React application. The ReactSVG component takes the URL for your SVG as the value of the src prop. It also takes several optional props you can look up in the documentation:

import { ReactSVG } from "react-svg";

<ReactSVG src="icon.svg" />

How to animate SVGs in React

As mentioned in the introduction, one of the benefits of using SVGs over other image formats is that SVGs are possible to animate. You can animate SVGs using CSS or React animation libraries like Framer motion and React spring.

Things to note:

• Complicated images: The more complex the image, the larger the SVG file gets — we saw this while trying to use the <svg> element. Here, I would recommend you go with PNG or JPEG images
• Backwards support on the web: SVG doesn’t have backwards browser support, which means most older browser versions won’t support SVG. As such, SVG might not display correctly for users who are still on those versions. If you are targeting older versions of browsers, SVG might not be your go-to image format

Conclusion

SVGs make up a significant proportion of images on the web today. As highlighted above, SVGs have smaller file sizes than other image formats. You can resize them without losing image quality, and they are animatable.

Though its usage is straightforward with HTML, you need additional tools and configuration to start using SVGs in frontend frameworks like React. Most of the popular React project starter toolsets, like Create React App, Vite, and Astro, come with out-of-the-box configurations for handling static assets such as images, including SVGs.

As hinted in the article, Create React App uses the SVGR webpack loader, @svgr/webpack, under the hood. Therefore, you can import an SVG with an import statement and render it in your application. You can also inline the SVG markup. However, rendering SVGs inline can make your components hard to maintain.

For a custom React project that uses webpack as a bundler, you can configure the @svgr/webpack loader to load SVGs similar to Create React App.

As you use SVGs, it is worth mentioning that complex images can have large SVG files, especially if you want to inline the SVG. Though most popular modern browsers fully support SVGs, some browsers, especially mobile browsers, do not have full support for certain SVG features.