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CapForm[type]

is a graphics primitive that specifies what type of caps should be used at the ends of lines, tubes, and related primitives.

Details
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Basic Examples  
Scope  
Properties & Relations  
Neat Examples  
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CapForm

CapForm[type]

is a graphics primitive that specifies what type of caps should be used at the ends of lines, tubes, and related primitives.

Details

  • The following types can be used in CapForm[type]:
  • "Butt"truncate at the end point
    "Round"put a half-disk at the end point
    "Square"put a half-square at the end point
    Noneequivalent to "Butt"
  • CapForm works in both 2D and 3D.
  • In 2D, the default is CapForm["Square"]. In 3D, the default is CapForm["Round"].
  • CapForm applies to Line, Tube, Circle, and Arrow.
  • CapForm specifications are ignored where an arrowhead appears.
  • CapForm[None] leaves 3D shapes open at their end points.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (2)

A rounded line cap:

Wolfram Language code: Graphics[{CapForm["Round"], Thickness[0.2], Line[{{-1, -1}, {1, 1}}]}]

A rounded tube cap:

Wolfram Language code: Graphics3D[{CapForm["Round"], Tube[{{-1, -1, -1}, {1, 1, 1}}, 0.2]}]

Scope  (3)

2D and 3D line caps:

Wolfram Language code: Table[Graphics[{CapForm[cap], Thickness[.2], Line[{{-1, -1}, {1, 1}}]}, PlotRange -> 1.5, PlotLabel -> cap], {cap, {"Butt", "Round", "Square"}}]
Wolfram Language code: Table[Graphics3D[{CapForm[cap], Thickness[.1], Line[{{-1, -1, -1}, {1, 1, 1}}]}, PlotRange -> 1.5, PlotLabel -> cap], {cap, {"Butt", "Round", "Square"}}]

Specify caps of circular arcs:

Wolfram Language code: Table[Graphics[{CapForm[cap], Thickness[.2], Circle[{0, -1}, 1, {Pi / 6, 5Pi / 6}]}, PlotRange -> 1.5, PlotLabel -> cap], {cap, {"Butt", "Round", "Square"}}]

Tube caps:

Wolfram Language code: Table[Graphics3D[{CapForm[cap], Tube[{{-1, -1, -1}, {1, 1, 1}}, 0.2]}, PlotRange -> 1.5, PlotLabel -> Row[{cap}]], {cap, {None, "Butt", "Round", "Square"}}]

Properties & Relations  (1)

Dashing of any sort overrides the CapForm directive and effectively uses "Butt":

Wolfram Language code: Graphics[{Dashing[{.1, .1}], CapForm["Round"], Thickness[.1], Line[{{0, 0}, {1, 1}}]}]

Specify the third argument to Dashing to set a cap form for all dashes:

Wolfram Language code: Graphics[{Dashing[{.1, .1}, 0, "Round"], Thickness[.1], Line[{{0, 0}, {1, 1}}]}]

Neat Examples  (1)

Different line cap and join forms:

Wolfram Language code: With[{points = {{0, 0.3}, {-0.5, 0}, {0.5, 0}, {0.3, 0.3}}}, Graphics[{Thickness[0.1], {Blue, CapForm["Square"], JoinForm["Miter"], Line[points]}, {Green, CapForm["Round"], JoinForm["Round"], Line[points]}, {Red, CapForm["Butt"], JoinForm["Bevel"], Line[points]}}, PlotRange -> 1]]
Wolfram Research (2008), CapForm, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CapForm.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (2008), CapForm, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CapForm.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2008. "CapForm." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CapForm.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2008). CapForm. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CapForm.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_capform, author="Wolfram Research", title="{CapForm}", year="2008", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CapForm.html}", note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_capform, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={CapForm}, year={2008}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CapForm.html}, note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}