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transform-origin

The transform-origin CSS property sets the origin for an element's transformations.

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The transform origin is the point around which a transformation is applied. For example, the transform origin of the rotate() function is the center of rotation.

In effect, this property wraps a pair of translations around the element's other transformations. The first translation moves the transform origin to the true origin at ( 0 , 0 ) . Then the other transformations are applied, and because the transform origin is at ( 0 , 0 ) , those transformations act about the transform origin. Finally, the opposite translation is applied, moving the transform origin back to its original location. Consequently, this definition

transform-origin: -100% 50%;
transform: rotate(45deg);

results in the same transformation as

transform-origin: 0 0;
transform: translate(-100%, 50%) rotate(45deg) translate(100%, -50%);

Reading from right to left, translate(100%, -50%) is the translation to bring the transform origin to the true origin, rotate(45deg) is the original transformation, and translate(-100%, 50%) is the translation to restore the transform origin to its original location.

By default, the origin of a transform is center.

Syntax

/* One-value syntax */
transform-origin: 2px;
transform-origin: bottom;

/* x-offset | y-offset */
transform-origin: 3cm 2px;

/* x-offset-keyword | y-offset */
transform-origin: left 2px;

/* x-offset-keyword | y-offset-keyword */
transform-origin: right top;

/* y-offset-keyword | x-offset-keyword */
transform-origin: top right;

/* x-offset | y-offset | z-offset */
transform-origin: 2px 30% 10px;

/* x-offset-keyword | y-offset | z-offset */
transform-origin: left 5px -3px;

/* x-offset-keyword | y-offset-keyword | z-offset */
transform-origin: right bottom 2cm;

/* y-offset-keyword | x-offset-keyword | z-offset */
transform-origin: bottom right 2cm;

/* Global values */
transform-origin: inherit;
transform-origin: initial;
transform-origin: revert;
transform-origin: revert-layer;
transform-origin: unset;

The transform-origin property may be specified using one, two, or three values, where each value represents an offset. Offsets that are not explicitly defined are reset to their corresponding initial values.

If a single <length> or <percentage> value is defined, it represents the horizontal offset.

If two or more values are defined and either no value is a keyword, or the only used keyword is center, then the first value represents the horizontal offset and the second represents the vertical offset.

  • One-value syntax:
    • The value must be a <length>, a <percentage>, or one of the keywords left, center, right, top, and bottom.
  • Two-value syntax:
  • Three-value syntax:
    • The first two values are the same as for the two-value syntax.
    • The third value must be a <length>. It always represents the Z offset.

Values

x-offset

Is a <length> or a <percentage> describing how far from the left edge of the box the origin of the transform is set.

offset-keyword

Is one of the left, right, top, bottom, or center keyword describing the corresponding offset.

y-offset

Is a <length> or a <percentage> describing how far from the top edge of the box the origin of the transform is set.

x-offset-keyword

Is one of the left, right, or center keyword describing how far from the left edge of the box the origin of the transform is set.

y-offset-keyword

Is one of the top, bottom, or center keyword describing how far from the top edge of the box the origin of the transform is set.

z-offset

Is a <length> (and never a <percentage> which would make the statement invalid) describing how far from the user eye the z=0 origin is set.

The keywords are convenience shorthands and match the following <percentage> values:

Keyword Value
left 0%
center 50%
right 100%
top 0%
bottom 100%

Formal definition

Initial value 50% 50% 0
Applies to transformable elements
Inherited no
Percentages refer to the size of bounding box
Computed value for <length> the absolute value, otherwise a percentage
Animation type simple list of length, percentage, or calc

Note: The initial value of transform-origin is 0 0 for all SVG elements except for root <svg> elements and <svg> elements that are a direct child of a foreignObject, and whose transform-origin is 50% 50%, like other CSS elements. See the SVG transform-origin attribute for more information.

Formal syntax

transform-origin = 
[ left | center | right | top | bottom | <length-percentage> ] |
[ left | center | right | <length-percentage> ] [ top | center | bottom | <length-percentage> ] <length>? |
[ [ center | left | right ] && [ center | top | bottom ] ] <length>?

<length-percentage> =
<length> |
<percentage>

Examples

A demonstration of various transform values

This example shows the effect of choosing different transform-origin values for a variety of transformation functions.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
transform-origin 361 1212 49163.5 109 231512.1–1510.5–15 92 ≤374.4 3618 49164 241512.1–1511–14 91 3.01.0
support_in_svg 19 17
43Keywords and percentages refer to the canvas instead of the object itself. See bug 1209061.
No 15
6Only supported for transformations applied using the CSS transform property (e.g. .className { transform: rotate(45deg); transform-origin: center; }). It has no effect on transformations applied using the transform SVG attribute (e.g. <rect style="transform-origin: center;" transform="rotate(45)" />).
4.4 25
43Keywords and percentages refer to the canvas instead of the object itself. See bug 1209061.
14
6Only supported for transformations applied using the CSS transform property (e.g. .className { transform: rotate(45deg); transform-origin: center; }). It has no effect on transformations applied using the transform SVG attribute (e.g. <rect style="transform-origin: center;" transform="rotate(45)" />).
1.5
three_value_syntax 12 12 10 9 15 5 ≤37 18 10 14 3.2 1.0

See also

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https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/transform-origin