The transform
CSS property lets you rotate, scale, skew, or translate an element. It modifies the coordinate space of the CSS visual formatting model.
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If the property has a value different than none
, a stacking context will be created. In that case, the element will act as a containing block for any position: fixed;
or position: absolute;
elements that it contains.
Only transformable elements can be transform
ed. That is, all elements whose layout is governed by the CSS box model except for: non-replaced inline boxes, table-column boxes, and table-column-group boxes.
Syntax
/* Keyword values */ transform: none; /* Function values */ transform: matrix(1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0); transform: matrix3d(1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1); transform: perspective(17px); transform: rotate(0.5turn); transform: rotate3d(1, 2.0, 3.0, 10deg); transform: rotateX(10deg); transform: rotateY(10deg); transform: rotateZ(10deg); transform: translate(12px, 50%); transform: translate3d(12px, 50%, 3em); transform: translateX(2em); transform: translateY(3in); transform: translateZ(2px); transform: scale(2, 0.5); transform: scale3d(2.5, 1.2, 0.3); transform: scaleX(2); transform: scaleY(0.5); transform: scaleZ(0.3); transform: skew(30deg, 20deg); transform: skewX(30deg); transform: skewY(1.07rad); /* Multiple function values */ transform: translateX(10px) rotate(10deg) translateY(5px); transform: perspective(500px) translate(10px, 0, 20px) rotateY(3deg); /* Global values */ transform: inherit; transform: initial; transform: unset;
The transform
property may be specified as either the keyword value none
or as one or more <transform-function>
values.
If perspective()
is one of multiple function values, it must be listed first.
Values
<transform-function>
- One or more of the CSS transform functions to be applied. The transform functions are multiplied in order from left to right, meaning that composite transforms are effectively applied in order from right to left.
none
- Specifies that no transform should be applied.
Accessibility concerns
Scaling/zooming animations are problematic for accessibility, as they are a common trigger for certain types of migraine. If you need to include such animations on your website, you should provide a control to allow users to turn off animations, preferrably site-wide.
Also, consider making use of the prefers-reduced-motion
media feature — use it to write a media query that will turn off animations if the user has reduced animation specified in their system preferences.
Find out more:
- MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 2.3 explanations
- Understanding Success Criterion 2.3.3 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.1
Formal definition
Initial value | none |
---|---|
Applies to | transformable elements |
Inherited | no |
Percentages | refer to the size of bounding box |
Computed value | as specified, but with relative lengths converted into absolute lengths |
Animation type | a transform |
Creates stacking context | yes |
Formal syntax
none | <transform-list>where
<transform-list> = <transform-function>+
where
<transform-function> = <matrix()> | <translate()> | <translateX()> | <translateY()> | <scale()> | <scaleX()> | <scaleY()> | <rotate()> | <skew()> | <skewX()> | <skewY()> | <matrix3d()> | <translate3d()> | <translateZ()> | <scale3d()> | <scaleZ()> | <rotate3d()> | <rotateX()> | <rotateY()> | <rotateZ()> | <perspective()>
where
<matrix()> = matrix( <number>#{6} )
<translate()> = translate( <length-percentage> , <length-percentage>? )
<translateX()> = translateX( <length-percentage> )
<translateY()> = translateY( <length-percentage> )
<scale()> = scale( <number> , <number>? )
<scaleX()> = scaleX( <number> )
<scaleY()> = scaleY( <number> )
<rotate()> = rotate( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )
<skew()> = skew( [ <angle> | <zero> ] , [ <angle> | <zero> ]? )
<skewX()> = skewX( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )
<skewY()> = skewY( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )
<matrix3d()> = matrix3d( <number>#{16} )
<translate3d()> = translate3d( <length-percentage> , <length-percentage> , <length> )
<translateZ()> = translateZ( <length> )
<scale3d()> = scale3d( <number> , <number> , <number> )
<scaleZ()> = scaleZ( <number> )
<rotate3d()> = rotate3d( <number> , <number> , <number> , [ <angle> | <zero> ] )
<rotateX()> = rotateX( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )
<rotateY()> = rotateY( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )
<rotateZ()> = rotateZ( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )
<perspective()> = perspective( <length> )where
<length-percentage> = <length> | <percentage>
Examples
Translating and rotating an element
HTML
<div>Transformed element</div>
CSS
div { border: solid red; transform: translate(30px, 20px) rotate(20deg); width: 140px; height: 60px; }
Result
More examples
Please see Using CSS transforms and <transform-function>
for more examples.
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
CSS Transforms Level 2 The definition of 'transform' in that specification. |
Editor's Draft | Adds 3D transform functions. |
CSS Transforms Level 1 The definition of 'transform' in that specification. |
Working Draft | Initial definition. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
transform | Chrome
Full support
36
| Edge
Full support
12
| Firefox
Full support
16
| IE
Full support
10
| Opera
Full support
23
| Safari
Full support
9
| WebView Android
Full support
37
| Chrome Android
Full support
36
| Firefox Android
Full support
16
| Opera Android
Full support
24
| Safari iOS
Full support
9
| Samsung Internet Android
Full support
3.0
|
3D support | Chrome Full support 12 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 16 | IE
Full support
10
| Opera Full support 15 | Safari Full support 4 | WebView Android
Full support
3
| Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 16 | Opera Android Full support 14 | Safari iOS Full support 3.2 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- See implementation notes.
- See implementation notes.
- 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
- Using CSS transforms
<transform-function>
data type with all the transform functions explained.- Online tool to visualize CSS Transform functions: CSS Transform Playground