CanvasRenderingContext2D: translate() method

The CanvasRenderingContext2D.translate() method of the Canvas 2D API adds a translation transformation to the current matrix.

Syntax

translate(x, y)

The translate() method adds a translation transformation to the current matrix by moving the canvas and its origin x units horizontally and y units vertically on the grid.

Parameters

x

Distance to move in the horizontal direction. Positive values are to the right, and negative to the left.

y

Distance to move in the vertical direction. Positive values are down, and negative are up.

Return value

None (undefined).

Examples

Moving a shape

This example draws a square that is moved from its default position by the translate() method. An unmoved square of the same size is then drawn for comparison.

HTML

<canvas id="canvas"></canvas>

JavaScript

The translate() method translates the context by 110 horizontally and 30 vertically. The first square is shifted by those amounts from its default position.

const canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");

// Moved square
ctx.translate(110, 30);
ctx.fillStyle = "red";
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, 80, 80);

// Reset current transformation matrix to the identity matrix
ctx.setTransform(1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0);

// Unmoved square
ctx.fillStyle = "gray";
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, 80, 80);

Result

The moved square is red, and the unmoved square is gray.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• The interface defining this method: CanvasRenderingContext2D