LineTo

LineTo is a path drawing command used in vector graphics to add a straight line segment from the current point to a specified coordinate. It is a common operation in path-based drawing models found in several graphic APIs and file formats. LineTo typically follows a MoveTo command, which sets the starting point of the path. When LineTo is invoked, it creates a line from the current point to the given coordinates and then updates the current point to those coordinates. LineTo itself does not render the stroke; rendering occurs when the path is stroked or filled.

In HTML5 canvas, lineTo is a method of the drawing context. Typical usage involves beginPath, moveTo(x0, y0), lineTo(x1, y1), and stroke. In SVG, line segments can be specified as part of a path using the L command (absolute) or the l command (relative). Other environments, such as PostScript and PDF, implement similar operators often named lineto or lineTo.

LineTo supports absolute coordinates and, in some APIs, relative coordinates depending on the context. It is usually employed alongside MoveTo and other path commands to construct shapes, polylines, or complex outlines. The operation is lightweight when used in sequence, and performance can be improved by batching multiple lineTo calls before issuing a stroke or fill.

See also MoveTo, CurveTo, Path, Stroke, Fill.