Drawing with paths

In the previous section, we saw how to simplify drawing paths using UIBezierPath. This class is just a wrapper around a set of core graphics functions that allows you to create paths for the current graphic context. In this section, you'll learn how to work with paths using a pure core graphics approach.

As discussed previously, a path is the most basic element that you can use to define a shape. With paths, you can design whichever shape you might have in mind; however, while it is extremely simple to create objects such as lines, squares, and circles, more complex shapes need a little more effort. You will find out soon enough.

Path initialization

A path is, in its essence, a set of one or more shapes (subpaths) such as rectangles, complex shapes, or even single lines, arcs, and curves. We already talked about the data type responsible for describing a path: CGPathRef, or its mutable version CGMutablePathRef (or even just their aliases—CGPath/CGMutablePath...