{"id":15543,"date":"2025-07-08T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com/blogs\/autocad\/?p=15543"},"modified":"2025-11-17T08:49:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T16:49:30","slug":"how-to-create-2d-objects-autocad-foundations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com/blogs\/autocad\/how-to-create-2d-objects-autocad-foundations\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create 2D Objects: AutoCAD Foundations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2D objects are fundamental to creating designs in AutoCAD and include many forms such as lines, arcs, circles, rectangles, and polygons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For our AutoCAD Foundations blog series, we\u2019re sharing four quick exercises to help get you started learning the basics of 2D objects. For the\u00a0full tutorial\u00a0<\/a>on how to create 2D objects, you can check out the\u00a0AutoCAD Foundations article.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2D Objects Exercise #1: Create a Line in AutoCAD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start at the very beginning. A line is the most common 2D object in a drawing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draw a Line<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In this exercise, you’ll try out multiple ways to start the LINE command and draw a line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the ribbon, click Home tab > Draw panel > Line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Or enter LINE at the Command prompt and press Enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When prompted for the first point, you can type in a coordinate or click in the drawing area where you’d like to begin the line. Once you specify your first point, the Command prompt will ask where you’d like to end the line. Here, you can type in a coordinate or click in the drawing area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The LINE command continues to prompt you for additional points. Press Enter or the Spacebar to end the command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2D Objects Exercise #2: How to Create a Polyline in AutoCAD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have the line down, let\u2019s move on to a polyline. A polyline is a connected series of line or arc segments that is created as a single object. They are useful for irregular shapes; borders; contour lines; roads and rivers in maps; and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polylines can be open or closed and have different starting and ending widths for each segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draw a Basic Polyline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In this exercise, you\u2019ll draw a polyline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the ribbon, click Home tab > Draw panel > Polyline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Or enter PLINE at the Command prompt and press Enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you specify the first point of the polyline, you can use the Width option to specify the width of all subsequent segments. You can change the width value at any time, even as you create new segments. Continue specifying additional points to define the polyline. Press Enter or the Spacebar to end the command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2D Objects Exercise #3: How to Create a Rectangle in AutoCAD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now, let’s move on to see how to draw closed objects such as rectangles and polygons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draw a Rectangle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In this exercise, you’ll draw a rectangle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Do one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n