Object Snaps

Object snaps (osnaps) cause the cursor to lock onto a specific geometric point on a nearby entity when you are picking a point. When an osnap is active a marker is displayed on the candidate point and the type of snap is shown.

Snaps can be toggled on or off individually in Settings → Snaps, or toggled all at once with F9.

Snap Override

A snap override forces the next pick only to use a specific snap type, ignoring all other active snaps. It is useful when you need a precise single-use snap without changing your permanent snap settings. Access snap overrides through the right-click context menu under Snap Override.

Snap Types

Endpoint

Snaps to the nearest endpoint of a line, arc, or polyline segment. Use this when you need to connect geometry exactly at the end of an existing entity.

Midpoint

Snaps to the midpoint of a line, arc, or polyline segment. Use this to bisect a line or to align geometry with the centre of a segment.

Centre

Snaps to the centre point of a circle, arc, or ellipse. Use this to draw from or to the exact centre of a circular entity.

Quadrant

Snaps to the four cardinal points of a circle or arc — the points at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. These correspond to the rightmost, topmost, leftmost, and bottommost points of the curve. Use this when you need to connect to the extents of a circle rather than its centre.

Nearest

Snaps to the geometrically closest point on any entity to the current cursor position. Use this when you need a point that lies exactly on an entity’s boundary but is not one of the other snap candidates.

Tangent

Snaps to the point on a circle or arc where a line drawn from the previous point would be tangent to the curve. Use this to draw tangent lines between a point and a circle, or between two circles.

Node

Snaps to a point entity. Use this to connect geometry to a discrete point that has been placed in the drawing.

Perpendicular

Snaps to the point on an entity where a line from the previous point would meet it at exactly 90°. Use this to draw lines that are perpendicular to an existing line, arc, or circle.