---
title: "border-shape: the future of the non-rectangular web"
url: https://daily.dev/posts/border-shape-the-future-of-the-non-rectangular-web-vgnytbmtd
source_url: https://una.im/border-shape/
type: article
source: "Una Kravets"
published: 2026-02-19T23:18:59.594Z
updated: 2026-02-19T23:19:24.375Z
tags: ["webdev", "css", "google-chrome"]
reading_time: 6
upvotes: 4
comments: 0
language: en
---

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# border-shape: the future of the non-rectangular web

**[Una Kravets](https://daily.dev/sources/una)** · 6 min read · 4 upvotes · 0 comments

## Summary

The experimental CSS `border-shape` property, available in Chrome Canary 146+ behind a flag, redefines how elements can take on non-rectangular geometry. Unlike `clip-path` which merely masks an element, `border-shape` redefines the actual box so that backgrounds, border-images, focus outlines, and box-shadows all conform to the new shape. It accepts basic shapes (`circle()`, `ellipse()`, `polygon()`), the new `shape()` function with SVG-like path commands, and raw path strings. The post compares it to `corner-shape` (limited to corner styling) and walks through practical demos: CSS tooltips with dynamic arrow positioning, chevron navigation tabs, and scalloped borders using arc commands. Code examples show how CSS custom properties can parameterize shapes, and a `clip-path` fallback strategy is recommended for unsupported browsers. The feature is part of CSS Borders and Box Decorations Level 4.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://una.im/border-shape/>

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---

Tags: [#webdev](https://daily.dev/tags/webdev), [#css](https://daily.dev/tags/css), [#google-chrome](https://daily.dev/tags/google-chrome)

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