CSS - transform Property

October 1, 2024

Categories: CSS Properties, CSS Reference, Reference

Quick Reference

The transform property applies a 2D or 3D transformation to an element, allowing it to be rotated, scaled, moved, skewed, etc.

Rotate an Element

div {
    transform: rotate(20deg);
}

Scale an Element

/* increases the element to be 2X its orignal width  and 3X its original height */
div {
    transform: scale(2, 3);
}

Scew an Element

/* skews the element 20 degrees along the Y-axis */
div {
    transform: skewY(20deg);
}

Default

Default value	none
Inherited values	no
Can it be animated?	yes

These are the allowed values.

Value	Description
none	Defines that there should be no transformation
matrix(n,n,n,n,n,n)	Defines a 2D transformation, using a matrix of six values
matrix3d (n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n)	Defines a 3D transformation, using a 4x4 matrix of 16 values
translate(x,y)	Defines a 2D translation
translate3d(x,y,z)	Defines a 3D translation
translateX(x)	Defines a translation, using only the value for the X-axis
translateY(y)	Defines a translation, using only the value for the Y-axis
translateZ(z)	Defines a 3D translation, using only the value for the Z-axis
scale(x,y)	Defines a 2D scale transformation
scale3d(x,y,z)	Defines a 3D scale transformation
scaleX(x)	Defines a scale transformation by giving a value for the X-axis
scaleY(y)	Defines a scale transformation by giving a value for the Y-axis
scaleZ(z)	Defines a 3D scale transformation by giving a value for the Z-axis
rotate(angle)	Defines a 2D rotation, the angle is specified in the parameter
rotate3d(x,y,z,angle)	Defines a 3D rotation
rotateX(angle)	Defines a 3D rotation along the X-axis
rotateY(angle)	Defines a 3D rotation along the Y-axis
rotateZ(angle)	Defines a 3D rotation along the Z-axis
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
perspective(n)	Defines a perspective view for a 3D transformed element
initial	Sets this property to its default value
inherit	Inherits this property from its parent element

Using JavaScript

The HTML element can also be styled using JavaScript and the element’s id.

document.getElementById('my_div').style.transform = 'rotate(45deg)';

<button onclick='my_function()'>Click Here</button>

<script>
function my_function() {
    document.getElementById('my_div').style.transform = 'rotate(45deg)';
}
</script>

CSS Notes:

The “inherit”, “initial” and “unset” keywords can be used with any CSS property to set its value
In CSS there are many ways to express a color value in a property

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