rotate()

The rotate() CSS function defines a transformation that rotates an element around a fixed point on the 2D plane, without deforming it. Its result is a <transform-function> data type.

The fixed point that the element rotates around — mentioned above — is also known as the transform origin. This defaults to the center of the element, but you can set your own custom transform origin using the transform-origin property.

Syntax

The amount of rotation created by rotate() is specified by an <angle>. If positive, the movement will be clockwise; if negative, it will be counter-clockwise. A rotation by 180° is called point reflection.

rotate(a)

Values

a
Is an <angle> representing the angle of the rotation. A positive angle denotes a clockwise rotation, a negative angle a counter-clockwise one.
Cartesian coordinates on ℝ2 Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ2 Cartesian coordinates on ℝ3 Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ3
cos(a)-sin(a) sin(a)cos(a) cos(a)-sin(a)0sin(a)cos(a)0001 cos(a)-sin(a)0sin(a)cos(a)0001 cos(a)-sin(a)00sin(a)cos(a)0000100001
[cos(a) sin(a) -sin(a) cos(a) 0 0]

Examples

Basic example

HTML

<div>Normal</div>
<div class="rotated">Rotated</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 80px;
  height: 80px;
  background-color: skyblue;
}

.rotated {
  transform: rotate(45deg); /* Equal to rotateZ(45deg) */
  background-color: pink;
}

Result

Combining rotation with another transformation

If you want apply multiple transformations to an element, be careful about the order in which you specify your transformations. For example, if you rotate before translating, the translation will be along the new axis of rotation!

HTML

<div>Normal</div>
<div class="rotate">Rotated</div>
<div class="rotate-translate">Rotated + Translated</div>
<div class="translate-rotate">Translated + Rotated</div>

CSS

div {
  position: absolute;
  left: 40px;
  top: 40px;
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  background-color: lightgray;
}

.rotate {
  background-color: transparent;
  outline: 2px dashed;
  transform: rotate(45deg);
}

.rotate-translate {
  background-color: pink;
  transform: rotate(45deg) translateX(180px);
}

.translate-rotate {
  background-color: gold;
  transform: translateX(180px) rotate(45deg);
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Transforms Level 1
The definition of 'rotate()' in that specification.		 Working Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Please see the <transform-function> data type for compatibility info.

See also