The abs(x) function accepts only one value as its parameter.

x

A calculation which resolves to a number.

The absolute value of x.

• if x's numeric value is positive or 0⁺, return x.
• Otherwise, returns -1 * x.

<abs()> = 
  abs( <calc-sum> )  

<calc-sum> = 
  <calc-product> [ [ '+' | '-' ] <calc-product> ]*  

<calc-product> = 
  <calc-value> [ [ '*' | '/' ] <calc-value> ]*  

<calc-value> = 
  <number>         |
  <dimension>      |
  <percentage>     |
  <calc-constant>  |
  ( <calc-sum> )   

<calc-constant> = 
  e          |
  pi         |
  infinity   |
  -infinity  |
  NaN        

The abs() function can be used to ensure that a value is always positive. In the following example a CSS custom property --font-size is used as the value of font-size. Wrapping this custom property in abs() will convert a negative value to a positive one.

h1 {
  font-size: abs(var(--font-size));
}

You can also control the gradient direction using abs() function. In the following example, with an angle of -45deg the gradient would start red and transition to blue. By using abs() to make the value positive, the gradient will start blue and transition to red.

div {
  --deg: -45deg;
  background-image: linear-gradient(abs(var(--deg)), blue, red);
}

In older browsers that lack the support for CSS abs() function, you can use the CSS max() function to achieve the same result, as shown below:

p {
  line-height: max(var(--lh), -1 * var(--lh));
}

We use the max() function to return the largest (most positive) value from a list of two values: var(--lh) or -1 * var(--lh). Irrespective of whether --lh is positive or negative, the calculated return value will always be positive, that is, an absolute number.

• sign()