transform

The transform CSS property lets you rotate, scale, skew, or translate an element. It modifies the coordinate space of the CSS visual formatting model.

If the property has a value different from none, a stacking context will be created. In that case, the element will act as a containing block for any position: fixed; or position: absolute; elements that it contains.

You can also use the individual transform properties: {{cssxref('translate')}}, {{cssxref('rotate')}}, and {{cssxref('scale')}}. These properties are applied in the order: translate, rotate, scale, and finally transform.

[!WARNING] Only transformable elements can be transformed. That is, all elements whose layout is governed by the CSS box model except for: non-replaced inline boxes, table-column boxes, and table-column-group boxes.

{{InteractiveExample("CSS Demo: transform")}}

transform: matrix(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6);

transform: translate(120px, 50%);

transform: scale(2, 0.5);

transform: rotate(0.5turn);

transform: skew(30deg, 20deg);

transform: scale(0.5) translate(-100%, -100%);

<section id="default-example">
  
</section>

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
transform: none;

/* Function values */
transform: matrix(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6);
transform: matrix3d(1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1);
transform: perspective(17px);
transform: rotate(0.5turn);
transform: rotate3d(1, 2, 3, 10deg);
transform: rotateX(10deg);
transform: rotateY(10deg);
transform: rotateZ(10deg);
transform: translate(12px, 50%);
transform: translate3d(12px, 50%, 3em);
transform: translateX(2em);
transform: translateY(3in);
transform: translateZ(2px);
transform: scale(2, 0.5);
transform: scale3d(2.5, 1.2, 0.3);
transform: scaleX(2);
transform: scaleY(0.5);
transform: scaleZ(0.3);
transform: skew(30deg, 20deg);
transform: skewX(30deg);
transform: skewY(1.07rad);

/* Multiple function values */
transform: translateX(10px) rotate(10deg) translateY(5px);
transform: perspective(500px) translate3d(10px, 0, 20px) rotateY(30deg);

/* Global values */
transform: inherit;
transform: initial;
transform: revert;
transform: revert-layer;
transform: unset;

The transform property may be specified as either the keyword value none or as one or more <transform-function> values.

Values

• {{cssxref("<transform-function>")}}
  • : One or more of the CSS transform functions to be applied. The transform functions are multiplied in order from left to right, meaning that composite transforms are effectively applied in order from right to left.
• none
  • : Specifies that no transform should be applied.

Accessibility

Scaling/zooming animations are problematic for accessibility, as they are a common trigger for certain types of migraine. If you need to include such animations on your website, you should provide a control to allow users to turn off animations, preferably site-wide.

Also, consider making use of the {{cssxref("@media/prefers-reduced-motion", "prefers-reduced-motion")}} media feature — use it to write a media query that will turn off animations if the user has reduced animation specified in their system preferences.

Find out more:

• MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 2.3 explanations
• Understanding Success Criterion 2.3.3 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.1

Formal definition

{{CSSInfo}}

Formal syntax

{{csssyntax}}

Examples

Translating and rotating an element

HTML

<div>Transformed element</div>

CSS

div {
  border: solid red;
  transform: translate(30px, 20px) rotate(20deg);
  width: 140px;
  height: 60px;
}

Result

{{EmbedLiveSample("Translating_and_rotating_an_element", "400", "160")}}

Transform order

The order of transform functions matters. In this example, two boxes are rotated and translated by the same values; only the transform function order is different.

HTML

<div class="original"></div>
<div class="one">1</div>
<div class="two">2</div>

CSS

div {
  height: 200px;
  width: 200px;
  position: absolute;
  left: 200px;
  top: 50px;
  font-size: 4rem;
  line-height: 200px;
  text-align: center;
}
.original {
  border: 1px dashed;
}
.original::before,
.original::after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  top: 100px;
  width: 500px;
  left: -150px;
  height: 1px;
  border-top: 2px dotted;
}
.original::after {
  transform: rotate(135deg);
}
.one {
  background-color: #cccccc;
}
.two {
  background-color: #d6bb72;
}

.one {
  transform: translateX(200px) rotate(135deg);
}
.two {
  transform: rotate(135deg) translateX(200px);
}

Result

{{EmbedLiveSample("Transform_order", "400", "460")}}

When an element is rotated before being translated, the translate direction is on the rotated axis. The axis as indicated with the dotted lines.

More examples

Please see Using CSS transforms and {{cssxref("<transform-function>")}} for more examples.

Specifications

{{Specifications}}

Browser compatibility

{{Compat}}

See also

• Using CSS transforms
• {{cssxref("<transform-function>")}} data type with all the transform functions explained.
• Individual CSS properties: {{cssxref('translate')}}, {{cssxref('rotate')}}, and {{cssxref('scale')}} (there is no skew property).
• SVG {{SVGAttr("transform")}} attribute
• Online tool to visualize CSS Transform functions: CSS Transform Playground