Does Transform Order Matter in SVG?

Understanding the Order of Transforms in SVG

In SVG, chaining transforms involves applying multiple transformations to an element in a particular sequence. The order in which these transforms are applied significantly affects the final result.

As per the SVG specification, each transform is applied to the current coordinate system, which is the coordinate system after it has been modified by previous transformations. This concept is crucial in understanding the difference between applying transforms in different orders.

Consider two rectangles, as illustrated in the code you provided. The first rectangle undergoes a scale (scale(2, 1)) followed by a rotation (rotate(10deg)). The second rectangle undergoes the same transformations but in reverse order (rotate(10deg) scale(2, 1)).

When the first rectangle is scaled, its coordinate system is adjusted accordingly, with its width and height multiplied by 2. Subsequently, when the rotation is applied, the rectangle is not rotated around its original axis but around the axis of the scaled coordinate system. This results in the skewed appearance you observed.

In contrast, when the second rectangle is rotated first, its coordinate system is unaffected. The subsequent scale transformation simply increases the size of the rectangle without skewing it.

To summarize, the order of transforms matters because each transformation operates on the coordinate system that has been modified by the previous transformations. In the case of the first rectangle, the scaling precedes the rotation, leading to a skew. In the case of the second rectangle, the rotation precedes the scaling, resulting in a different appearance. Understanding this concept is essential for manipulating elements in SVG using transformations.

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