Scalable vector graphics (SVG) allows you to use XML to generate two-dimensional geometrical graphics. This means if you need a circle on your page, you can write instructions in XML that will produce it. There are advantages to utilizing this XML feature to create shapes and lines. For many forms of images, you need a graphic editor or drawing tool. With SVG, you can type the information into an ordinary text editor. SVG graphics also print well and resizable.
When you write code in XML, you typically make up the element tags as you go. When designing a SVG graphic, you must use specific tag names, so the parser understands that you are creating an image. The tags are fairly common sense. SVG pictures can be a rectangle, circle, ellipse, line, polyline, polygon or a path. A path would be a line that goes from point A to point B, but may make turns and stops along the way. The element tags that you use to create your image, with the exception of a rectangle, are the literal word. For example:
Rectangle is the exception to the rule.
The simplistic element names fall in line with the general idea behind XML. This markup language is supposed to be easy, and SVG element names are staying true to that form.