CSS3 3D Transforms

CSS3 allows you to format your elements using 3D transforms.
In this chapter you will learn about some of the 3D transform methods:

• rotateX()
• rotateY()

Click on the elements below, to see the difference between a 2D transform and a 3D transform:

2D rotate

3D rotate

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Browser Support for 3D Transforms

The numbers in the table specifies the first browser version that fully supports the property.
Numbers followed by -webkit-, -moz-, or -o- specifies the first version that worked with a prefix.

Property
transform	10.0	12.0 -webkit-	16.0 10.0 -moz-	4.0 -webkit-	15.0 -webkit-
transform-origin (three-value syntax)	10.0	12.0 -webkit-	16.0 10.0 -moz-	4.0 -webkit-	15.0 -webkit-
transform-style	Not supported	12.0 -webkit-	16.0 10.0 -moz-	4.0 -webkit-	15.0 -webkit-
perspective	10.0	12.0 -webkit-	16.0 10.0 -moz-	4.0 -webkit-	15.0 -webkit-
perspective-origin	10.0	12.0 -webkit-	16.0 10.0 -moz-	4.0 -webkit-	15.0 -webkit-
backface-visibility	10.0	12.0 -webkit-	16.0 10.0 -moz-	4.0 -webkit-	15.0 -webkit-

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The rotateX() Method

With the rotateX() method, the element rotates around its X-axis at a given degree.

Example

div
{
-webkit-transform: rotateX(120deg); /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
transform: rotateX(120deg);
}

Try it yourself »

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The rotateY() Method

With the rotateY() method, the element rotates around its Y-axis at a given degree.

Example

div
{
-webkit-transform: rotateY(130deg); /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
transform: rotateY(130deg);
}

Try it yourself »

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CSS3 Transform Properties

The following table lists all the 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
transform-style	Specifies how nested elements are rendered in 3D space
perspective	Specifies the perspective on how 3D elements are viewed
perspective-origin	Specifies the bottom position of 3D elements
backface-visibility	Defines whether or not an element should be visible when not facing the screen

3D Transform Methods

Function	Description
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
translate3d(x,y,z)	Defines a 3D translation
translateX(x)	Defines a 3D translation, using only the value for the X-axis
translateY(y)	Defines a 3D translation, using only the value for the Y-axis
translateZ(z)	Defines a 3D translation, using only the value for the Z-axis
scale3d(x,y,z)	Defines a 3D scale transformation
scaleX(x)	Defines a 3D scale transformation by giving a value for the X-axis
scaleY(y)	Defines a 3D 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
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
perspective(n)	Defines a perspective view for a 3D transformed element