freeCodeCamp/guide/english/css/css3-2d-transforms/index.md

---
title: CSS3 2d Transforms
---

## CSS3 2d Transforms

CSS3 transforms allow you to translate, rotate, scale, and skew elements.

A transformation is an effect that lets an element change shape, size and
position.

CSS3 supports 2D and 3D transformations.

## Browser Support for 2D Transforms

The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports
the property.

Numbers followed by -ms-, -webkit-, -moz-, or -o- specify the first version that
worked with a prefix.

| Property                                | Chrome                 | IE                 | Firefox             | Safari               | Opera                                        |
| --------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| transform                               | 36.0 4.0 <br> -webkit- | 10.0 9.0 <br> -ms- | 16.0 3.5 <br> -moz- | 9.0 3.2 -webkit-     | 23.0 15.0 <br> -webkit- <br> 12.1 10.5 -o-   |
| transform-origin <br>(two-value-syntax) | 36.0 4.0<br> -webkit-  | 10.0 9.0 <br>-ms-  | 16.0 3.5 <br> -moz- | 9.0 3.2 <br>-webkit- | 23.0 15.0 <br>-webkit- <br>12.1 <br>10.5 -o- |

## CSS3 2D Transforms

Methods:

* `translate()`
* `rotate()`
* `scale()`
* `skewX()`
* `skewY()`
* `matrix()`

## 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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: translate(50px, 100px); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: translate(50px, 100px); /* Safari */
  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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: rotate(20deg); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: rotate(20deg); /* Safari */
  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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: rotate(-20deg); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: rotate(-20deg); /* Safari */
  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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: scale(2, 3); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: scale(2, 3); /* Safari */
  transform: scale(2, 3);
}
```

The following example decreases the `<div>` element to be half of its original
width and height:

### Example:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: scale(0.5, 0.5); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: scale(0.5, 0.5); /* Safari */
  transform: scale(0.5, 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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: skewX(20deg); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: skewX(20deg); /* Safari */
  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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: skewY(20deg); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: skewY(20deg); /* Safari */
  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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: skew(20deg, 10deg); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: skew(20deg, 10deg); /* Safari */
  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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: skew(20deg); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: skew(20deg); /* Safari */
  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:

```css
div {
  -ms-transform: matrix(1, -0.3, 0, 1, 0, 0); /* IE 9 */
  -webkit-transform: matrix(1, -0.3, 0, 1, 0, 0); /* Safari */
  transform: matrix(1, -0.3, 0, 1, 0, 0);
}
```

## CSS3 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 |

## 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                         |

## More Information:

* https://css-tricks.com/almanac/properties/t/transform/
* https://www.w3schools.com/css/css3_2dtransforms.asp
* https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/transform