How do I get SVG code for an icon?

Icons are an important part of any website or application design. They allow you to convey meaning and actions quickly without using text. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is one of the most popular formats for icons because SVG images can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Getting the SVG code for an icon allows you to customize and integrate it into your project.

What is SVG?

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It is an XML-based file format used for two-dimensional vector graphics. Unlike raster image formats like JPG, PNG, and GIF, SVGs are resolution independent and can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Some key advantages of the SVG format include:

Scalability – SVG images retain their quality at any resolution or size.

Small file size – SVG files are typically smaller than raster image formats.
Editability – SVG images can be edited directly in code using any text editor.
Animation – Elements within an SVG can be animated.

Compatibility – SVG is supported by all major browsers.

These features make SVG an ideal format for icons, logos, illustrations, and other graphics that need to be scaled and customized. The SVG code contains vector shape data and can be directly embedded into HTML and CSS code.

Where to Find SVG Icons

There are many sources online to find free SVG icons and graphics. Some top places to look include:

Icon Libraries: Large repositories like Icons8, Flaticon, and IconSVG offer thousands of customizable SVG icons.
Noun Project: The Noun Project has a collection of over 2 million curated SVG icons contributed by designers.
Wikimedia Commons: The media repository contains many public domain SVG images and icons.

GitHub: Developers often share free SVG icon sets and graphics on GitHub repositories.
Design Blogs: Design sites like Prototypr and Smashing Magazine share SVG icon templates and resources.

The key is finding an icon library or resource that allows you to use and customize the SVG code for your specific needs. Always check the license to ensure your intended use is permitted.

How to Save an SVG Icon File

Once you’ve found the perfect SVG icon, there are two ways to save the SVG code to use in your project:

Download the SVG File: Most icon sites will have a download button that allows you to save the raw SVG file to your computer. This is the easiest method to get the SVG code for offline use.
Copy the SVG Code: Some sites may allow you to copy the raw SVG XML code directly from the page. You can then paste this code into a text editor and save as an SVG file.

When saving an SVG icon file, use a descriptive name like “menu-icon.svg” or “facebook-logo.svg”. You’ll want to store your SVG icon files together in a dedicated directory or within your project assets.

How to Customize SVG Icons

The major benefit of SVG icons is that the XML code can be directly edited to customize colors, sizes, and other properties. There are two main ways to customize SVGs:

Edit SVG Code: For simple edits like changing colors, you can directly modify the SVG code in a text editor. For example, change the hex color values within the <fill> tags.

Use an SVG Editor: For more advanced customizations, you can use free SVG editors like Inkscape, Vecteezy Editor, or Boxy SVG. These tools give you a graphical interface to resize, recolor, and edit vector shapes within the SVG.

No matter which method you choose, always save a copy of the original SVG source file. This allows you to go back and re-edit the icon if needed.

How to Import SVG Icons

Once you have an optimized SVG icon file, it’s easy to import it into your HTML, CSS, or other projects. Here are some common ways to use SVG code:

1. Embed Inline SVG

You can embed SVG code directly inline within your HTML code. For example:

  <body>
    
    <svg width="50" height="50" viewBox="0 0 48 48" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
      <path d="M44 24C44 35.0457 35.0457 44 24 44C12.9543 44 4 35.0457 4 24C4 12.9543 12.9543 4 24 4" stroke="#000000" stroke-width="4"/>
    </svg>
    
  </body>

This allows the SVG icon to be manipulated using CSS and JavaScript like any other DOM element.

2. Set as img src

You can set an SVG file as the source for an img tag. For example:

  <img src="path/to/icon.svg" alt="Icon" />

This is useful for when you want to swap out icons using media queries or change them on hover/focus states.

3. Set as CSS background-image

SVG files can be set as the background-image for elements in your CSS. For example:

  .icon {
    background-image: url(path/to/icon.svg);
  }

This allows you to reuse the same icon in multiple places by applying the CSS class.

4. Import as React Component

For React applications, you can import an SVG file as a component using a library like SVGR. For example:

  import StarIcon from 'path/to/star.svg';
  
  function MyComponent() {
    return  
  }

This allows you to manipulate the SVG icon using React props.

Tips for Optimizing SVG Icons

To ensure your SVG icons look crisp and load fast, follow these optimization tips:

Remove unnecessary metadata and comments from the SVG code.
Simplify shapes and paths to use the fewest points possible.
Convert strokes to fills which render better at small sizes.

Set vector effects like gradients to use the objectBoundingBox units.
Set the viewBox attribute to tightly fit the icon shape.
Remove any unused namespaces from the SVG tag.

Set width and height dimensions to a reasonable size.
Minify the SVG code by removing whitespace and line breaks.
Use SVG compression tools to further reduce file size.

Running the SVG code through an optimization tool like SVGOMG can also help identify areas to help improve performance.

Troubleshooting SVG Issues

Here are some common troubleshooting tips when working with SVG icons:

Icons Appear Blocky or Distorted

Set width and height dimensions that match the SVG viewBox aspect ratio.

Avoid stretching SVG icons disproportionately.
Upsample very small icons as raster images for better quality.

Icons Are Not Showing Up

Check for typos in the SVG code or file paths.

Set CORS headers if loading from external domain.
Add XML namespace if missing from SVG tag.
Verify browser compatibility for SVG feature support.

Icons Have Visible Padding

Set viewBox tight to edges of SVG artwork bounds.
For inline SVGs, remove extra space in code.
Adjust padding and margin CSS properties.

Icons Fail to Animate or Transition

Simplify SVG shapes for better performance.
Split animations across multiple SVG elements.
Use CSS for animations instead of SMIL if supported.

For complex SVG issues, inspecting the rendered icon in developer tools can help debug problems with your SVG code.

Conclusion

SVG is the ideal format for icons that need to be flexible and integrate into web and app projects. Finding icon libraries with customizable SVG source code gives you the most options for editing and styling icons to match your design system. With the proper SVG optimization and troubleshooting, you can easily incorporate SVG icons that will look crisp at any size while loading quickly for your users.