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Konva.js FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions​

What is Konva.js?​

Konva.js is an open-source 2D HTML5 Canvas JavaScript framework that provides an object-oriented API for canvas graphics. It supports shapes, animations, events, drag-and-drop, filters, and has official integrations with React, Vue, Svelte, and Angular. It is the most downloaded 2D canvas framework on npm.

Konva uses a Stage → Layer → Shape hierarchy where each Layer is a separate <canvas> element for optimal rendering performance.

Read the full overview →

Is Konva.js free to use?​

Yes. Konva.js is MIT-licensed and completely free for both commercial and personal use. There are no paid tiers or premium features. The source code is available on GitHub.

Which JavaScript canvas library should I use?​

It depends on your use case:

  • Konva.js — Best for interactive 2D canvas applications (design editors, annotation tools, diagrams, interactive maps, dashboards). Has the best framework integration (React, Vue, Svelte, Angular) and the most comprehensive drag-and-drop and event system.
  • PixiJS — Best for WebGL-powered 2D games and high-frame-rate rendering. Uses WebGL for GPU acceleration.
  • Fabric.js — Good for image editing and manipulation tools. Similar feature set to Konva but without official framework bindings.
  • Paper.js — Best for vector graphics, mathematical art, and path manipulation.
  • p5.js — Best for creative coding, generative art, and educational purposes.

For a detailed comparison, see our Canvas Library Comparison Guide. See also Why Konva? for a deeper look at what Konva is (and isn't) designed for.

How do I use canvas with React?​

Use react-konva, the official React binding for Konva.js:

npm install react-konva konva
import { Stage, Layer, Rect, Circle } from 'react-konva';

function App() {
  return (
    <Stage width={window.innerWidth} height={window.innerHeight}>
      <Layer>
        <Rect x={20} y={20} width={100} height={100} fill="red" />
        <Circle x={200} y={100} radius={50} fill="green" />
      </Layer>
    </Stage>
  );
}

react-konva provides declarative React components for all Konva shapes, with full support for React state, props, and event handling.

Read the full React tutorial →

How do I use canvas with Vue?​

Use vue-konva:

npm install vue-konva konva

Read the full Vue tutorial →

How do I use canvas with Svelte?​

Use svelte-konva:

npm install svelte-konva konva

Read the full Svelte tutorial →

How do I use canvas with Angular?​

Use ng2-konva:

npm install ng2-konva konva

Read the full Angular tutorial →

Konva vs Fabric.js — which should I choose?​

Both are 2D Canvas frameworks, but they differ in key areas:

  • Framework support: Konva has official React, Vue, Svelte, and Angular bindings. Fabric.js has no official framework bindings.
  • Architecture: Konva uses a multi-layer approach (each Layer is a separate canvas) for better rendering performance. Fabric.js uses a single canvas.
  • Drag and drop: Both have built-in drag-and-drop. Konva's event system supports event bubbling and delegation.
  • TypeScript: Both ship with TypeScript definitions.
  • npm downloads: Konva has more weekly downloads on npm.

Choose Konva for interactive applications, especially with React/Vue/Svelte. Choose Fabric.js if you need its specific image manipulation features.

Read the full comparison →

Konva vs PixiJS — which should I choose?​

They serve different purposes:

  • Konva uses the 2D Canvas API with an object-oriented approach. Best for interactive applications, UI elements, design editors, annotation tools.
  • PixiJS uses WebGL for GPU-accelerated rendering. Best for 2D games, animations with thousands of moving sprites, and high-frame-rate graphics.

If you're building an app with UI interactions (click, drag, resize, hover), choose Konva. If you're building a game with many animated sprites, choose PixiJS.

Read the full comparison →

Does Konva support TypeScript?​

Yes. Konva ships with built-in TypeScript type definitions. No additional @types package is needed. Simply install konva and TypeScript will pick up the types automatically:

npm install konva

The same applies to react-konva, vue-konva, and other official bindings.

Can Konva handle thousands of shapes?​

Yes, with proper optimization. Key techniques:

  1. Layer management — Use multiple layers to separate static and dynamic content
  2. Shape caching — Cache complex shapes with shape.cache() to render them as images
  3. Disable listening — Set listening: false on shapes that don't need events
  4. Batch draws — Use layer.batchDraw() instead of layer.draw() for grouped updates
  5. Disable perfect drawing — Set perfectDrawEnabled: false for shapes with both fill and stroke

Konva has demos rendering 10,000 shapes and 20,000 nodes.

Read all performance tips →

Does Konva work on mobile?​

Yes. Konva fully supports mobile browsers with:

  • Touch events: tap, dbltap, touchstart, touchmove, touchend
  • Multi-touch gestures (pinch to zoom, two-finger rotate)
  • Responsive canvas sizing
  • Touch-based drag and drop

Read the mobile events tutorial →

Can I use Konva with Node.js?​

Yes. Konva supports server-side rendering using the canvas npm package:

npm install konva canvas

This allows you to generate images on the server, create thumbnails, or run canvas operations in Node.js without a browser.

Read the Node.js tutorial →

How do I export canvas to an image or PDF?​

Image export:

const dataURL = stage.toDataURL({ pixelRatio: 2 }); // PNG by default
const jpegURL = stage.toDataURL({ mimeType: 'image/jpeg', quality: 0.8 });

PDF export is possible using third-party libraries like jsPDF. See the Canvas to PDF demo.

Read the export tutorial →

How do I implement drag and drop?​

Set draggable: true on any shape:

const rect = new Konva.Rect({
  x: 50,
  y: 50,
  width: 100,
  height: 100,
  fill: 'red',
  draggable: true,
});

Konva supports drag boundaries, snap-to-grid, drop events, and drag-and-drop between layers.

Read the drag and drop tutorial →

Is Konva still actively maintained?​

Yes. Konva is actively maintained with regular releases. Check the changelog for recent updates and the GitHub repository for ongoing development activity.