Web/CSS/transform-function/translateZ()

The translateZ() CSS function repositions an element along the z-axis in 3D space, i.e., closer to or farther away from the viewer. Its result is a <transform-function> data type.

This transformation is defined by a <length> which specifies how far inward or outward the element or elements move.

In the above interactive examples, perspective: 550px; (to create a 3D space) and transform-style: preserve-3d; (so the children, the 6 sides of the cube, are also positioned in the 3D space), have been set on the cube.

Note: translateZ(tz) is equivalent to translate3d(0, 0, tz).

Syntax

translateZ(tz)

Values

tz: A <length> representing the z-component of the translating vector. A positive value moves the element towards the viewer, and a negative value farther away.

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.

A translation 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

In this example, two boxes are created. One is positioned normally on the page, without being translated at all. The second is altered by applying perspective to create a 3D space, then moved towards the user.

HTML

<div>Static</div>
<div class="moved">Moved</div>

CSS

div {
  position: relative;
  width: 60px;
  height: 60px;
  left: 100px;
  background-color: skyblue;
}

.moved {
  transform: perspective(500px) translateZ(200px);
  background-color: pink;
}

What really matters here is the class "moved"; let's take a look at what it does. First, the perspective() function positions the viewer relative to the plane that lies where z=0 (in essence, the surface of the screen). A value of 500px means the user is 500 pixels "in front of" the imagery located at z=0.

Then, the translateZ() function moves the element 200 pixels "outward" from the screen, toward the user. This has the effect of making the element appear larger when viewed on a 2D display, or closer when viewed using a VR headset or other 3D display device.

Note if the perspective() value is less than the translateZ() value, such as transform: perspective(200px) translateZ(300px); the transformed element will not be visible as it is further than the user's viewport. The smaller the difference between the perspective and translateZ values, the closer the user is to the element and the larger the translated element will seem.

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Transforms Level 2The definition of 'transform' in that specification.	Editor's Draft	Adds 3D transform functions to the CSS Transforms standard.

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.