The backface-visibility
CSS property sets whether the back face of an element is visible when turned towards the user.
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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 value | visible |
---|---|
Applies to | transformable elements |
Inherited | no |
Computed value | as specified |
Animation type | discrete |
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
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
backface-visibility | Chrome
Full support
36
| Edge
Full support
12
| Firefox
Full support
16
| IE Full support 10 | Opera
Full support
23
| Safari
Full support
5.1
| WebView Android
Full support
37
| Chrome Android
Full support
36
| Firefox Android
Full support
16
| Opera Android
Full support
24
| Safari iOS
Full support
5
| Samsung Internet Android
Full support
3.0
|
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.