transform CSS property

Try it

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">
  <img class="transition-all" id="example-element" src="../../../../../../shared-assets/images/examples/firefox-logo.svg" width="200">
</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

<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 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

Formal syntax

transform = 
  none              |
  <transform-list>  

<transform-list> = 
  <transform-function>+  

<transform-function> = 
  <scale3d()>      |
  <scale()>        |
  <scaleX()>       |
  <scaleY()>       |
  <scaleZ()>       |
  <translate3d()>  |
  <translate()>    |
  <translateX()>   |
  <translateY()>   |
  <translateZ()>   |
  <rotate3d()>     |
  <rotate()>       |
  <rotateX()>      |
  <rotateY()>      |
  <rotateZ()>      |
  <skew()>         |
  <skewX()>        |
  <skewY()>        |
  <matrix3d()>     |
  <matrix()>       |
  <perspective()>  

<scale3d()> = 
  scale3d( [ <number> | <percentage> ]#{3} )  

<scale()> = 
  scale( <number> , <number>? )  

<scaleX()> = 
  scaleX( <number> )  

<scaleY()> = 
  scaleY( <number> )  

<scaleZ()> = 
  scaleZ( [ <number> | <percentage> ] )  

<translate3d()> = 
  translate3d( <length-percentage> , <length-percentage> , <length> )  

<translate()> = 
  translate( <length-percentage> , <length-percentage>? )  

<translateX()> = 
  translateX( <length-percentage> )  

<translateY()> = 
  translateY( <length-percentage> )  

<translateZ()> = 
  translateZ( <length> )  

<rotate3d()> = 
  rotate3d( <number> , <number> , <number> , [ <angle> | <zero> ] )  

<rotate()> = 
  rotate( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )  

<rotateX()> = 
  rotateX( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )  

<rotateY()> = 
  rotateY( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )  

<rotateZ()> = 
  rotateZ( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )  

<skew()> = 
  skew( [ <angle> | <zero> ] , [ <angle> | <zero> ]? )  

<skewX()> = 
  skewX( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )  

<skewY()> = 
  skewY( [ <angle> | <zero> ] )  

<matrix3d()> = 
  matrix3d( <number>#{16} )  

<matrix()> = 
  matrix( <number>#{6} )  

<perspective()> = 
  perspective( [ <length [0,∞]> | none ] )  

<length-percentage> = 
  <length>      |
  <percentage>  

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

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

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 <transform-function> for more examples.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

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