files/en-us/web/api/svganimatednumber/baseval/index.md
{{APIRef("SVG")}}
The baseVal property of the {{domxref("SVGAnimatedNumber")}} interface represents the base (non-animated) value of an animatable numeric attribute.
Some animatable SVG attributes accept a single numeric value, such as the {{SVGAttr("radius")}} attribute of the {{SVGElement("circle")}} or {{SVGElement("ellipse")}} elements and the {{SVGAttr("width")}} and {{SVGAttr("height")}} attributes of the {{SVGElement("rect")}} element, and many others. The baseVal property reflects and updates the base, or non-animated, value of the numeric attribute.
A number; the base value of the attribute as a float.
This example includes a {{SVGElement("path")}} element with a nested {{SVGElement("animate")}} element that animates the value of the path's {{SVGAttr("pathLength")}} attribute:
<path d="M 0,40 h100" pathLength="90" id="path">
<animate
attributeName="pathLength"
values="50; 90; 50;"
dur="10s"
repeatCount="indefinite" />
</path>
const path = document.querySelector("path");
console.log(path.pathLength.baseVal); // output: 90
path.pathLength.baseVal = 50; // updates the value
console.log(path.pathLength.baseVal); // output: 90
The baseVal reflect that value of the pathLength attribute. We also use the baseVal property to access the base (non-animating) value of the animating pathLength.
To access the current value of the {{domxref("SVGGeometryElement.pathLength", "pathLength")}} value as it animates, use the {{domxref("SVGAnimatedNumber.animVal")}} property.
{{Specifications}}
{{Compat}}