backface-visibility

The backface-visibility CSS property sets whether the back face of an element is visible when turned towards the user.

An element's back face is a mirror image of its front face. Though invisible in 2D, the back face can become visible when a transformation causes the element to be rotated in 3D space. (This property has no effect on 2D transforms, which have no perspective.)

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
backface-visibility: visible;
backface-visibility: hidden;

/* Global values */
backface-visibility: inherit;
backface-visibility: initial;
backface-visibility: unset;

The backface-visibility property is specified as one of the keywords listed below.

Values

visible
The back face is visible when turned towards the user.
hidden
The back face is hidden, effectively making the element invisible when turned away from the user.

Formal definition

Initial valuevisible
Applies totransformable elements
Inheritedno
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

visible | hidden

Examples

Cube with transparent and opaque faces

This example shows a cube with transparent faces, and one with opaque faces.

HTML

<table>
  <tr>
    <th><code>backface-visibility: visible;</code></th>
    <th><code>backface-visibility: hidden;</code></th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <div class="container">
        <div class="cube showbf">
          <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>
      <p>
        Since all faces are partially transparent,
        the back faces (2, 4, 5) are visible
        through the front faces (1, 3, 6).
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
      <div class="container">
        <div class="cube hidebf">
          <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>
      <p>
        The three back faces (2, 4, 5) are
        hidden.
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

CSS

/* Classes that will show or hide the
   three back faces of the "cube" */
.showbf div {
  backface-visibility: visible;
}

.hidebf div {
  backface-visibility: hidden;
}

/* Define the container div, the cube div, and a generic face */
.container {
  width: 150px;
  height: 150px;
  margin: 75px 0 0 75px;
  border: none;
}

.cube {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  perspective: 550px;
  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;
  margin: 0px;
  padding: 6px;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  text-align: left;
}

Result

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
backface-visibilityChrome 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 5.1
Prefixed
Full support 5.1
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 44
Prefixed Disabled
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Disabled From version 44: 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 5
Prefixed
Full support 5
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