# How to create canvas to draw custom gauges

**URL:** <https://community.grafana.com/t/how-to-create-canvas-to-draw-custom-gauges/64065>\
**Category:** Grafana Plugin Development\
**Created:** [April 14, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.grafana.com/t/how-to-create-canvas-to-draw-custom-gauges/64065 "2022-04-14T17:18:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rdhoole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@rdhoole](https://community.grafana.com/u/rdhoole)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.grafana.com/t/how-to-create-canvas-to-draw-custom-gauges/64065/1 "2022-04-14T17:18:07Z")

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Hello!

I am trying to create a plugin and add a canvas to draw custom gauges. However, I can create a canvas that is not controlled by Grafana… but that is not desirable. Is there anything that allows me to create a canvas and draw inside of Grafana’s panels?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![marcusolsson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/grafana/user_avatar/community.grafana.com/marcusolsson/32/7922_2.png) [@marcusolsson](https://community.grafana.com/u/marcusolsson)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 11:51am UTC](https://community.grafana.com/t/how-to-create-canvas-to-draw-custom-gauges/64065/2 "2022-04-19T11:51:02Z")

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> [@rdhoole](#):
>
> However, I can create a canvas that is not controlled by Grafana… but that is not desirable

I’m not sure what you mean by this. Grafana doesn’t have a low-level API for drawing things. You can use whatever technology you feel comfortable with, for example the HTML5 canvas or SVG. You can use pretty much any charting library out there.

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**Author:** ![rdhoole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@rdhoole](https://community.grafana.com/u/rdhoole)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.grafana.com/t/how-to-create-canvas-to-draw-custom-gauges/64065/3 "2022-04-19T15:34:51Z")

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That is my question. How do I use HTML5 canvas with Grafana? If I just create a canvas, Grafana doesn’t handle it. It will just exist in the background of the page. I am new to ‘web’ development.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/grafana/original/2X/e/ef5308cc58c9e5a13187b5012eb99f406928462f.png) [@system](https://community.grafana.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.grafana.com/t/how-to-create-canvas-to-draw-custom-gauges/64065/4 "2023-04-19T15:35:39Z")

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Closed on April 19, 2023, 3:35pm UTC

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