Web/CSS/transform-function/perspective()

The perspective() CSS function defines a transformation that sets the distance between the user and the z=0 plane, the perspective from which the viewer would be if the 2-dimensional interface were 3-dimensional. Its result is a <transform-function> data type.

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The perspective() transform function is part of the transform value applied on the element being transformed. This differs from the perspective and perspective-origin properties which are attached to the parent of a child transformed in 3-dimensional space.

Syntax

The perspective distance used by perspective() is specified by a <length> value, which represents the distance between the user and the z=0 plane. The z=0 plane is the plane where everything appears in a 2-dimensional view, or the screen. A positive value makes the element appear closer to the user than the rest of the interface, a negative value farther. The greater the value, the further away the perspective of the user is.

perspective(d)

Values

d: Is a <length> representing the distance from the user to the z=0 plane. If it is 0 or a negative value, no perspective transform is applied.

Cartesian coordinates on ℝ²

Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ²

Cartesian coordinates on ℝ³

Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ³

This transformation applies to the 3D space and can't be represented on the plane.

This transformation is not a linear transformation in ℝ³, and can't be represented using a Cartesian-coordinate matrix.

<math display="inline">\begin{pmatrix}

& & & \\
& & & \\
& & & \\
& & {- /} & \\

\end{pmatrix}</math>

Examples

HTML

<p>Without perspective:</p>
<div class="no-perspective-box">
  <div class="face front">A</div>
  <div class="face top">B</div>
  <div class="face left">C</div>
</div>

<p>With perspective (9cm):</p>
<div class="perspective-box-far">
  <div class="face front">A</div>
  <div class="face top">B</div>
  <div class="face left">C</div>
</div>

<p>With perspective (4cm):</p>
<div class="perspective-box-closer">
  <div class="face front">A</div>
  <div class="face top">B</div>
  <div class="face left">C</div>
</div>

CSS

.face {
  position: absolute;
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  line-height: 100px;
  font-size: 100px;
  text-align: center;
}

p + div {
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  transform-style: preserve-3d;
  margin-left: 100px;
}
.no-perspective-box {
  transform: rotateX(-15deg) rotateY(30deg);
}

.perspective-box-far {
  transform: perspective(9cm) rotateX(-15deg) rotateY(30deg);
}

.perspective-box-closer {
  transform: perspective(4cm) rotateX(-15deg) rotateY(30deg);
}

.top {
  background-color: skyblue;
  transform: rotateX(90deg) translate3d(0, 0, 50px);
}

.left {
  background-color: pink;
  transform: rotateY(-90deg) translate3d(0, 0, 50px);
}

.front {
  background-color: limegreen;
  transform: translate3d(0, 0, 50px);
}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Transforms Level 2The definition of 'perspective()' in that specification.	Editor's Draft	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`<transform-function>`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 3.5 Notes' Full support 3.5 Notes' Notes' Firefox 14 removed experimental support for `skew()`, but it was reintroduced in Firefox 15. Notes' Before Firefox 16, the translation values of `matrix()` and `matrix3d()` could be `<length>`s, in addition to the standard `<number>`.	IE Full support 9 Notes' Full support 9 Notes' Notes' Internet Explorer 9 supports 2D but not 3D transforms. In version 9, mixing 2D and 3D transform functions invalidates the entire property.	Opera Full support 10.5	Safari Full support 3.1	WebView Android Full support 2	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 11	Safari iOS Full support 3.2	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
3D support	Chrome Full support 12	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 10	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 15	Safari Full support 4	WebView Android Full support 3	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 10	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 3.2	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.