The transform-style
CSS property sets whether children of an element are positioned in the 3D space or are flattened in the plane of the element.
The source for this interactive example is stored in a GitHub repository. If you'd like to contribute to the interactive examples project, please clone https://github.com/mdn/interactive-examples and send us a pull request.
If flattened, the element's children will not exist on their own in the 3D-space.
As this property is not inherited, it must be set for all non-leaf descendants of the element.
Syntax
/* Keyword values */ transform-style: flat; transform-style: preserve-3d; /* Global values */ transform-style: inherit; transform-style: initial; transform-style: unset;
Values
flat
- Indicates that the children of the element are lying in the plane of the element itself.
preserve-3d
- Indicates that the children of the element should be positioned in the 3D-space.
Formal definition
Initial value | flat |
---|---|
Applies to | transformable elements |
Inherited | no |
Computed value | as specified |
Animation type | discrete |
Creates stacking context | yes |
Formal syntax
flat | preserve-3d
Examples
Transform style demonstration
In this example we have a 3D cube created using transforms. The parent container of the cube faces has transform-style: preserve-3d
set on it by default, so it is transformed in the 3D space and you can see it as intended.
We also provide a checkbox allowing you to toggle between this, and transform-style: flat
. In this alternative state, the cube faces are all flattened onto the plane of their parent, and you might not be able to see them at all, depending on the browser you are using.
HTML
<section id="example-element"> <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> </section> <div class="checkbox"> <label for="preserve"><code>preserve-3d</code></label> <input type="checkbox" id="preserve" checked> </div>
CSS
#example-element { margin: 50px; width: 100px; height: 100px; transform-style: preserve-3d; transform: rotate3d(1, 1, 1, 30deg); } .face { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; backface-visibility: inherit; font-size: 60px; color: #fff; } .front { background: rgba(90,90,90,.7); transform: translateZ(50px); } .back { background: rgba(0,210,0,.7); transform: rotateY(180deg) translateZ(50px); } .right { background: rgba(210,0,0,.7); transform: rotateY(90deg) translateZ(50px); } .left { background: rgba(0,0,210,.7); transform: rotateY(-90deg) translateZ(50px); } .top { background: rgba(210,210,0,.7); transform: rotateX(90deg) translateZ(50px); } .bottom { background: rgba(210,0,210,.7); transform: rotateX(-90deg) translateZ(50px); }
JavaScript
const cube = document.getElementById('example-element'); const checkbox = document.getElementById('preserve'); checkbox.addEventListener('change', () => { if(checkbox.checked) { cube.style.transformStyle = 'preserve-3d'; } else { cube.style.transformStyle = 'flat'; } })
Result
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
CSS Transforms Level 2 The definition of 'transform-style' in that specification. |
Editor's Draft | Initial definition. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
transform-style | Chrome
Full support
36
| Edge
Full support
12
| Firefox
Full support
16
| IE No support No | 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
|
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No 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.