Using drawImage in HTML5

Question

Fact : The following code is valid.

var img = new Image(); img.onload = function() { context.drawImage(img, 32, 32); }; img.src = "example.png";

First Observation : The following will not draw to canvas.

var img = new Image(); img.src = "example.png"; context.drawImage(img, 32, 32);

Second Observation : The following will draw to canvas (eventually)...

var img = new Image(); img.src = "example.png"; setInterval(function() {context.drawImage(img, 32, 32);}, 1000);

Why is it that I need to call the drawImage function on a callback? And if that is the case, why does it eventually work when nested in a setInterval function?

Joseph · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-15 01:09:58Z

When you set the src of the image object, the browser starts to download it. But you may or may not get that image loaded by the time the browser executes the next line of code. That's why you are drawing a "blank" image, because it ain't loaded just yet.

You need to place an onload handler to know when the image has finished loading. Only then will you draw it to the canvas:

var img = new Image(); //create image object img.onload = function(){ //create our handler context.drawImage(img, 32, 32); //when image finishes loading, draw it } img.src = "example.png"; //load 'em up!

I Must Admit it This answer really saves me even thought this question not really related to my problem thanks

bfavaretto · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-15 01:10:43Z

You can only draw the image to canvas after it's loaded, that's why it works when you do it from the onload callback. And it works with setInterval because, after a certain amount of time, it eventually gets fully loaded.

Brendon John Wildbore · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-15 01:10:07Z

I believe its because loading an image is not instant, it takes time. Once the image is loaded, then it can be drawn to the canvas

Mimo · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-15 01:12:55Z

This is needed because the browser needs to "read" and eventually download the image (onload event) to correctly handle the image load. Using a setInterval to simulate this behaviour could not work, for example loading of a large image on a slow connection... So the best way to do this is:

var img = new Image(): img.src = "image.jpeg"; img.onload = function() { // Now you can play with your image. }

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