translate()

The translate() CSS function repositions an element in the horizontal and/or vertical directions. Its result is a <transform-function> data type.

This transformation is characterized by a two-dimensional vector. Its coordinates define how much the element moves in each direction.

Syntax

/* Single <length-percentage> values */
transform: translate(200px);
transform: translate(50%);

/* Double <length-percentage> values */
transform: translate(100px, 200px);
transform: translate(100px, 50%);
transform: translate(30%, 200px);
transform: translate(30%, 50%);

Values

Single <length-percentage> values
This value is a <length> or <percentage> representing the abscissa (horizontal, x-coordinate) of the translating vector. The ordinate (vertical, y-coordinate) of the translating vector will be set to 0. For example, translate(2) is equivalent to translate(2, 0). A percentage value refers to the width of the reference box defined by the transform-box property.
Double <length-percentage> values
This value describes two <length> or <percentage> values representing both the abscissa (x-coordinate) and the ordinate (y-coordinate) of the translating vector. A percentage as first value refers to the width, as second part to the height of the reference box defined by the transform-box property.
Cartesian coordinates on ℝ2 Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ2 Cartesian coordinates on ℝ3 Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ3

A translation is not a linear transformation in ℝ2 and can't be represented using a Cartesian-coordinate matrix.

 10tx01ty001 10tx01ty001 100tx010ty00100001
[1 0 0 1 tx ty]

Formal syntax

translate(<length-percentage> , <length-percentage>?)

Examples

Using a single-axis translation

HTML

<div>Static</div>
<div class="moved">Moved</div>
<div>Static</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 60px;
  height: 60px;
  background-color: skyblue;
}

.moved {
  transform: translate(10px); /* Equal to: translateX(10px) or translate(10px, 0) */
  background-color: pink;
}

Result

Combining y-axis and x-axis translation

HTML

<div>Static</div>
<div class="moved">Moved</div>
<div>Static</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 60px;
  height: 60px;
  background-color: skyblue;
}

.moved {
  transform: translate(10px, 10px);
  background-color: pink;
}

Result

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

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

See also