The Pathfinder panel in Adobe illustrator is used to perform actions on two or more paths at the same time. For example, subtracting one from the other, adding them, and so on.
The Pathfinder panel can be invoked from the Window> Pathfinder menu or by pressing the key combination [Shift + Ctrl + F9]. Let's take a closer look at the buttons on this panel.
Unite - unites all shapes into one by adding their outlines.
Minus Front - subtracts the shapes that are higher on the layers panel from the shape that is below; leaves only the bottom figure.
Intersect - leaves only the intersection area of the shapes.
Exclude - adds shapes into one and subtracts areas of intersection.
Divide - subtracts shapes from each other and creates new ones from intersection areas.
Trim - subtracts the shape that is higher in the Layers panel from the shape that is below, and removes the stroke; all shapes remain.
Merge - does the same as Trim, but shapes with the same styles are added to one.
Crop - processes only the top and bottom shapes, leaving the area of their intersection with the style of the bottom shape and the outline of the top shape without stroke and fill.
Outline - Cuts shape outlines at intersections, removing fill and stroke.
Minus Back - subtracts the shapes that are below in the layers panel from the shape that is above; leaves only the top figure.
