perspective

The perspective CSS property determines the distance between the z=0 plane and the user in order to give a 3D-positioned element some perspective.

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
perspective: none;

/* <length> values */
perspective: 20px;
perspective: 3.5em;

/* Global values */
perspective: inherit;
perspective: initial;
perspective: unset;

Values

none
Indicates that no perspective transform is to be applied.
<length>
A <length> giving the distance from the user to the z=0 plane. It is used to apply a perspective transform to the element and its content. If the value is 0 or a negative number, no perspective transform is applied.

Description

Each 3D element with z>0 becomes larger; each 3D-element with z<0 becomes smaller. The strength of the effect is determined by the value of this property.

The parts of the 3D elements that are behind the user — i.e. their z-axis coordinates are greater than the value of the perspective CSS property — are not drawn.

The vanishing point is by default placed at the center of the element, but its position can be changed using the perspective-origin property.

Using this property with a value different than 0 and none creates a new stacking context. Also, in that case, the object will act as a containing block for position: fixed elements that it contains.

Formal definition

Initial valuenone
Applies totransformable elements
Inheritedno
Computed valuethe absolute length or none
Animation typea length
Creates stacking contextyes

Formal syntax

none | <length>

Examples

Setting perspective

This example shows a cube with the perspective set at different positions. How quick the cube shrinks is defined by the perspective property. The smaller its value is, the deeper the perspective is.

HTML

The HTML below creates four copies of the same box, with the perspective set at different values.

<table>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <th><code>perspective: 250px;</code>
      </th>
      <th><code>perspective: 350px;</code>
      </th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>
        <div class="container">
          <div class="cube pers250">
            <div class="face front">1</div>
            <div class="face back">2</div>
            <div class="face right">3</div>
            <div class="face left">4</div>
            <div class="face top">5</div>
            <div class="face bottom">6</div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </td>
      <td>
        <div class="container">
          <div class="cube pers350">
            <div class="face front">1</div>
            <div class="face back">2</div>
            <div class="face right">3</div>
            <div class="face left">4</div>
            <div class="face top">5</div>
            <div class="face bottom">6</div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <th><code>perspective: 500px;</code>
      </th>
      <th><code>perspective: 650px;</code>
      </th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>
        <div class="container">
          <div class="cube pers500">
            <div class="face front">1</div>
            <div class="face back">2</div>
            <div class="face right">3</div>
            <div class="face left">4</div>
            <div class="face top">5</div>
            <div class="face bottom">6</div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </td>
      <td>
        <div class="container">
          <div class="cube pers650">
            <div class="face front">1</div>
            <div class="face back">2</div>
            <div class="face right">3</div>
            <div class="face left">4</div>
            <div class="face top">5</div>
            <div class="face bottom">6</div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

CSS

The CSS establishes classes that can be used to set the perspective to different distances. It also includes classes for the container box and the cube itself, as well as each of its faces.

/* Shorthand classes for different perspective values */
.pers250 {
  perspective: 250px;
}

.pers350 {
  perspective: 350px;
}

.pers500 {
  perspective: 500px;
}

.pers650 {
  perspective: 650px;
}

/* Define the container div, the cube div, and a generic face */
.container {
  width: 200px;
  height: 200px;
  margin: 75px 0 0 75px;
  border: none;
}

.cube {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  backface-visibility: visible;
  perspective-origin: 150% 150%;
  transform-style: preserve-3d;
}

.face {
  display: block;
  position: absolute;
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  border: none;
  line-height: 100px;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  font-size: 60px;
  color: white;
  text-align: center;
}

/* Define each face based on direction */
.front {
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
  transform: translateZ(50px);
}

.back {
  background: rgba(0, 255, 0, 1);
  color: black;
  transform: rotateY(180deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.right {
  background: rgba(196, 0, 0, 0.7);
  transform: rotateY(90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.left {
  background: rgba(0, 0, 196, 0.7);
  transform: rotateY(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.top {
  background: rgba(196, 196, 0, 0.7);
  transform: rotateX(90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.bottom {
  background: rgba(196, 0, 196, 0.7);
  transform: rotateX(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

/* Make the table a little nicer */
th, p, td {
  background-color: #EEEEEE;
  padding: 10px;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  text-align: left;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Transforms Level 2
The definition of 'perspective' in that specification.
Editor's Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
perspectiveChrome Full support 36
Full support 36
Full support 12
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge Full support 12
Full support 12
Full support 12
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Full support 16
Full support 16
Full support 10
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Full support 49
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 45
Prefixed Disabled
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Disabled From version 45: this feature is behind the layout.css.prefixes.webkit preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE Full support 10Opera Full support 23
Full support 23
Full support 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari Full support 9
Full support 9
Full support 4
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android Full support 37
Full support 37
Full support 3
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android Full support 36
Full support 36
Full support 18
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Android Full support 16
Full support 16
Full support 10
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Full support 49
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 45
Prefixed Disabled
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Disabled From version 45: this feature is behind the layout.css.prefixes.webkit preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 24
Full support 24
Full support 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari iOS Full support 9
Full support 9
Full support 2
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet Android Full support 3.0
Full support 3.0
Full support 1.0
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-

Legend

Full support
Full support
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also