CSS 2D Transforms
CSS 2D Transforms
CSS transforms allow you to move, rotate, scale, and skew elements.
Mouse over the element below to see a 2D transformation:
2D rotate
In this chapter you will learn about the following CSS property:
transform
Browser Support
The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the property.
| Property | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| transform | 36.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 23.0 |
Browser Specific Prefixes
Some older browsers need specific prefixes (-ms- or -webkit-) to understand the 2D transform properties:
Example
div {
-ms-transform: rotate(20deg); /* IE 9 */
-webkit-transform: rotate(20deg); /* Safari prior 9.0 */
transform: rotate(20deg); /* Standard syntax */
}
CSS 2D Transforms Methods
With the CSS
transform property you can use the following 2D transformation methods:translate()rotate()scaleX()scaleY()scale()skewX()skewY()skew()matrix()
Tip: You will learn about 3D transformations in the next chapter.
The translate() Method
The
translate() method moves an element from its current position (according to the parameters given for the X-axis and the Y-axis).
The following example moves the <div> element 50 pixels to the right, and 100 pixels down from its current position:
Example
div {
transform: translate(50px, 100px);
}
The rotate() Method
The
rotate() method rotates an element clockwise or counter-clockwise according to a given degree.
The following example rotates the <div> element clockwise with 20 degrees:
Example
div {
transform: rotate(20deg);
}
Using negative values will rotate the element counter-clockwise.
The following example rotates the <div> element counter-clockwise with 20 degrees:
Example
div {
transform: rotate(-20deg);
}
The scale() Method
The
scale() method increases or decreases the size of an element (according to the parameters given for the width and height).
The following example increases the <div> element to be two times of its original width, and three times of its original height:
Example
div {
transform: scale(2, 3);
}
The following example decreases the <div> element to be half of its original width and height:
Example
div {
transform: scale(0.5, 0.5);
}
The scaleX() Method
The
scaleX() method increases or decreases the width of an element.
The following example increases the <div> element to be two times of its original width:
Example
div {
transform: scaleX(2);
}
The following example decreases the <div> element to be half of its original width:
Example
div {
transform: scaleX(0.5);
}
The scaleY() Method
The
scaleY() method increases or decreases the height of an element.
The following example increases the <div> element to be three times of its original height:
Example
div {
transform: scaleY(3);
}
The following example decreases the <div> element to be half of its original height:
Example
div {
transform: scaleY(0.5);
}
The skewX() Method
The
skewX() method skews an element along the X-axis by the given angle.
The following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the X-axis:
Example
div {
transform: skewX(20deg);
}
The skewY() Method
The
skewY() method skews an element along the Y-axis by the given angle.
The following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the Y-axis:
Example
div {
transform: skewY(20deg);
}
The skew() Method
The
skew() method skews an element along the X and Y-axis by the given angles.
The following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the X-axis, and 10 degrees along the Y-axis:
Example
div {
transform: skew(20deg, 10deg);
}
If the second parameter is not specified, it has a zero value. So, the following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the X-axis:
Example
div {
transform: skew(20deg);
}
The matrix() Method
The
matrix() method combines all the 2D transform methods into one.
The matrix() method take six parameters, containing mathematic functions, which allows you to rotate, scale, move (translate), and skew elements.
The parameters are as follow: matrix(scaleX(),skewY(),skewX(),scaleY(),translateX(),translateY())
Example
div {
transform: matrix(1, -0.3, 0, 1, 0, 0);
}
Test Yourself with Exercises!
CSS Transform Properties
The following table lists all the 2D transform properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| transform | Applies a 2D or 3D transformation to an element |
| transform-origin | Allows you to change the position on transformed elements |
CSS 2D Transform Methods
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| matrix(n,n,n,n,n,n) | Defines a 2D transformation, using a matrix of six values |
| translate(x,y) | Defines a 2D translation, moving the element along the X- and the Y-axis |
| translateX(n) | Defines a 2D translation, moving the element along the X-axis |
| translateY(n) | Defines a 2D translation, moving the element along the Y-axis |
| scale(x,y) | Defines a 2D scale transformation, changing the elements width and height |
| scaleX(n) | Defines a 2D scale transformation, changing the element's width |
| scaleY(n) | Defines a 2D scale transformation, changing the element's height |
| rotate(angle) | Defines a 2D rotation, the angle is specified in the parameter |
| skew(x-angle,y-angle) | Defines a 2D skew transformation along the X- and the Y-axis |
| skewX(angle) | Defines a 2D skew transformation along the X-axis |
| skewY(angle) | Defines a 2D skew transformation along the Y-axis |