Work in the W3C Document Formats Domain includes a new release of the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.0 Specification as a W3C Proposed Recommendation. The document "defines the features and syntax for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), a language for describing two-dimensional vector and mixed vector/raster graphics in XML. SVG vector graphics are scalable to different display resolutions, so that for example printed output uses the full resolution of the printer and can be displayed at the same size on screens of different resolutions. Most existing XML grammars represent either textual information, or represent raw data such as financial information. They typically provide only rudimentary graphical capabilities, often less capable than the HTML 'img' element. SVG fills a gap in the market by providing a rich, structured description of vector and mixed vector/raster graphics; it can be used standalone, or as an XML namespace with other grammars." The release includes a revised XML DTD, SVG test suite, SVG implementation report, and list of changes in the specification since the CR version. The "substantial implementation experience with generators, viewers and transcoders based on the SVG specification and the amount of SVG content that has been developed to date encouraged the Working Group to ask the W3C Director to advance this document to Proposed Recommendation status."

Bibliographic information: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.0 Specification. W3C Proposed Recommendation 19-July-2001. Edited by Jon Ferraiolo (Adobe). Version URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/PR-SVG-20010719. Latest version URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG/. Previous CR version: http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/CR-SVG-20001102/. Available also in PDF format and zip archive of HTML.

From the W3C description:

SVG is a language for describing two-dimensional graphics in XML. SVG allows for three types of graphic objects: vector graphic shapes (e.g., paths consisting of straight lines and curves), images and text. Graphical objects can be grouped, styled, transformed and composited into previously rendered objects. Text can be in any XML namespace suitable to the appplication, which enhances searchability and accessibility of the SVG graphics. The feature set includes nested transformations, clipping paths, alpha masks, filter effects, template objects and extensibility.

SVG drawings can be dynamic and interactive. The Document Object Model (DOM) for SVG, which includes the full XML DOM, allows for straightforward and efficient vector graphics animation via scripting. A rich set of event handlers such as onmouseover and onclick can be assigned to any SVG graphical object. Because of its compatibility and leveraging of other Web standards, features like scripting can be done on SVG elements and other XML elements from different namespaces simultaneously within the same Web page.