Does Figma use canvas or SVG?
Figma combines the best of both worlds: canvas-based rendering with vector-based design data.
Under the hood, Figma uses WebGL (canvas) to render designs in the browser. This allows smooth performance, even with complex files and multiple layers.
But the content you create—shapes, text, icons—is all vector-based. That means it’s defined by position, dimensions, and properties, not pixels. You can easily export your work as SVG, PNG, or PDF, with crisp scaling and no quality loss.
So while you interact with a high-performance canvas, the underlying designs are vector, giving you flexibility and precision in both design and export.