CanvasRenderingContext2D.translate()

The CanvasRenderingContext2D.translate() method of the Canvas 2D API adds a translation transformation to the current matrix.

Syntax

void ctx.translate(x, y);

The translate() method adds a translation transformation to the current matrix by moving the canvas and its origin x units horizontally and y units vertically on the grid.

Parameters

x

Distance to move in the horizontal direction. Positive values are to the right, and negative to the left.

y

Distance to move in the vertical direction. Positive values are down, and negative are up.

Examples

Moving a shape

This example draws a square that is moved from its default position by the translate() method. An unmoved square of the same size is then drawn for comparison.

HTML

<canvas id="canvas"></canvas>

JavaScript

The translate() method translates the context by 110 horizontally and 30 vertically. The first square is shifted by those amounts from its default position.

const canvas = document.getElementById('canvas');
const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');

// Moved square
ctx.translate(110, 30);
ctx.fillStyle = 'red';
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, 80, 80);

// Reset current transformation matrix to the identity matrix
ctx.setTransform(1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0);

// Unmoved square
ctx.fillStyle = 'gray';
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, 80, 80);

Result

The moved square is red, and the unmoved square is gray.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• The interface defining this method: CanvasRenderingContext2D