CSS 2D Transforms

CSS transforms allow you to move, rotate, scale, and skew elements

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

    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

    Translate

    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

    Scale

    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

    Exercise:

    With the transform property, move the <div> element 100px to the right, and 200px down.

    <style>
    div {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      background-color: lightblue;
      border: 1px solid black;
      : ;
    }
    </style>
    
    <body>
      <div>This is a div</div>
    </body>
    

    Start the Exercise

    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