repeating-radial-gradient()

The repeating-radial-gradient() CSS function creates an image consisting of repeating gradients that radiate from an origin. It is similar to radial-gradient() and takes the same arguments, but it repeats the color stops infinitely in all directions so as to cover its entire container, similar to repeating-linear-gradient() . The function's result is an object of the <gradient> data type, which is a special kind of <image>.

With each repetition, the positions of the color stops are shifted by a multiple of the dimensions of the basic radial gradient (the distance between the last color stop and the first). Thus, the position of each ending color stop coincides with a starting color stop; if the color values are different, this will result in a sharp visual transition, which can be mitigated by repeating the first color as the last color.

As with any gradient, a repeating radial gradient has no intrinsic dimensions; i.e., it has no natural or preferred size, nor a preferred ratio. Its concrete size will match the size of the element it applies to.

Because <gradient>s belong to the <image> data type, they can only be used where <image>s can be used. For this reason, repeating-radial-gradient() won't work on background-color and other properties that use the <color> data type.

Syntax

/* A gradient at the center of its container,
   starting red, changing to blue, and finishing green,
   with the colors repeating every 30px */
repeating-radial-gradient(circle at center, red 0, blue, green 30px);

/* An elliptical gradient near the top left of its container,
   starting red, changing to green and back again,
   repeating five times between the center and the bottom right corner,
   and only once between the center and the top left corner */
repeating-radial-gradient(farthest-corner at 20% 20%, red 0, green, red 20%);

Values

<position>
The position of the gradient, interpreted in the same way as background-position or transform-origin. If unspecified, it defaults to center.
<shape>
The gradient's shape. The value can be circle (meaning that the gradient's shape is a circle with constant radius) or ellipse (meaning that the shape is an axis-aligned ellipse). If unspecified, it defaults to ellipse.
<extent-keyword>
A keyword describing how big the ending shape must be. The possible values are:
Keyword Description
closest-side The gradient's ending shape meets the side of the box closest to its center (for circles) or meets both the vertical and horizontal sides closest to the center (for ellipses).
closest-corner The gradient's ending shape is sized so that it exactly meets the closest corner of the box from its center.
farthest-side Similar to closest-side, except the ending shape is sized to meet the side of the box farthest from its center (or vertical and horizontal sides).
farthest-corner The gradient's ending shape is sized so that it exactly meets the farthest corner of the box from its center.

Note: Early implementations of this function included other keywords (cover and contain) as synonyms of the standard farthest-corner and closest-side, respectively. Use the standard keywords only, as some implementations have already dropped those older variants.

<color-stop>
A color-stop's <color> value, followed by an optional stop position (either a <percentage> or a <length> along the gradient's axis). A percentage of 0%, or a length of 0, represents the center of the gradient; the value 100% represents the intersection of the ending shape with the virtual gradient ray. Percentage values in between are linearly positioned on the virtual gradient ray.

Formal syntax

repeating-radial-gradient(
       [[ circle  || <length> ]                     [at <position>]? , |
        [ ellipse || [<length> | <percentage> ]{2}] [at <position>]? , |
        [[ circle | ellipse ] || <extent-keyword> ] [at <position>]? , |
                                                     at <position>   ,    <color-stop-list> )
        \---------------------------------------------------------------/\-----------------/
                  Contour, size and position of the ending shape          List of color stops

where <extent-keyword> = closest-corner | closest-side | farthest-corner | farthest-side
   and <color-stop-list> = [ <linear-color-stop> [, <color-hint>? ]? ]#, <linear-color-stop>
   and <linear-color-stop> = <color> [ <color-stop-length> ]?
   and <color-stop-length> = [ <percentage> | <length> ]{1,2}
   and <color-hint> = [ <percentage> | <length> ]

Examples

Black and white gradient

.radial-gradient {
  background: repeating-radial-gradient(black, black 5px, white 5px, white 10px);
}

Farthest-corner

.radial-gradient {
  background: repeating-radial-gradient(ellipse farthest-corner at 20% 20%,
      red, black 5%, blue 5%, green 10%);
  background: repeating-radial-gradient(ellipse farthest-corner at 20% 20%,
      red 0 5%, green 5% 10%);
}

The elliptical gradient will be centered 20% from the top left, and will repeat 10 times between the center and the farthest corner (the bottom right corner). Browsers supporting multi position color stops will display a red and green striped ellipse. Browsers not supporting the syntax yet will see a gradient that goes from red to black and then from blue to green.

Note: Please see Using CSS gradients for more examples.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Images Module Level 3
The definition of 'repeating-radial-gradient()' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
repeating-radial-gradient()Chrome Full support 26
Full support 26
Full support 10
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 16
Notes
Full support 16
Notes
Notes Before Firefox 36, gradients weren't applied on the pre-multiplied color space, leading to shades of grey unexpectedly appearing when used with transparency.
Full support 3.6
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes Since Firefox 42, the prefixed version of gradients can be disabled by setting layout.css.prefixes.gradients to false.
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.
IE Full support 10Opera Full support 12.1
Full support 12.1
Full support 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
No support 12 — 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -o-
Safari Full support 6.1
Full support 6.1
Full support 5.1
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Notes Safari 4 was supporting an experimental -webkit-gradient(radial,…) function. This old outdated syntax is still supported for compatibility purposes.
WebView Android Full support 4.4
Full support 4.4
Full support ≤37
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android Full support 26
Full support 26
Full support 18
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Android Full support 16
Notes
Full support 16
Notes
Notes Before Firefox 36, gradients weren't applied on the pre-multiplied color space, leading to shades of grey unexpectedly appearing when used with transparency.
Full support 10
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes Since Firefox 42, the prefixed version of gradients can be disabled by setting layout.css.prefixes.gradients to false.
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 12.1
Full support 12.1
Full support 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
No support 12 — 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -o-
Safari iOS Full support 7
Full support 7
Full support 6
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Notes Safari 4 was supporting an experimental -webkit-gradient(radial,…) function. This old outdated syntax is still supported for compatibility purposes.
Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5
Full support 1.5
Full support 1.0
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
at syntaxChrome Full support 26Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 16
Notes
Full support 16
Notes
Notes Before Firefox 36, gradients weren't applied on the pre-multiplied color space, leading to shades of grey unexpectedly appearing when used with transparency.
Full support 10
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes Since Firefox 42, the prefixed version of gradients can be disabled by setting layout.css.prefixes.gradients to false.
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.
IE Full support 10Opera Full support 15
Full support 15
No support 12 — 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -o-
Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 26Firefox Android Full support 16
Notes
Full support 16
Notes
Notes Before Firefox 36, gradients weren't applied on the pre-multiplied color space, leading to shades of grey unexpectedly appearing when used with transparency.
Full support 10
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes Since Firefox 42, the prefixed version of gradients can be disabled by setting layout.css.prefixes.gradients to false.
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 14
Full support 14
No support 12 — 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -o-
Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.5
Double-position color stopsChrome Full support 71Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 64IE No support NoOpera Full support 58Safari Full support 12.1WebView Android Full support 71Chrome Android Full support 71Firefox Android Full support 64Opera Android Full support 50Safari iOS Full support 12.2Samsung Internet Android Full support 10.0
Interpolation Hints / Gradient MidpointsChrome Full support 40Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 36IE No support NoOpera Full support 27Safari Full support 6.1WebView Android Full support 40Chrome Android Full support 40Firefox Android Full support 46Opera Android Full support 27Safari iOS Full support 7Samsung Internet Android Full support 4.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
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