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CSS rotate() Function – How to Rotate Elements in CSS

rotate() transforms an element by rotating it two-dimensionally around a fixed point.

Syntax of the CSS rotate() Function

Section titled “Syntax of the CSS rotate() Function”

rotate() accepts a single argument. Here is the syntax:

element {
  transform: rotate(angle);
}

Note the following:

  • The rotate(angle) function is equivalent to rotate3d(0, 0, 1, angle) or rotateZ(angle).
  • The angle argument specifies the element’s angle of rotation.
  • angle can be in degrees, gradians, radians, or turns.
  • An angle argument consists of a number followed by the unit you wish to use—for instance, 45deg.
  • Your browser’s writing direction determines the element’s direction of rotation.
  • A positive angle will rotate the element clockwise in a left-to-right writing direction. But a negative angle will do a counterclockwise rotation.
  • A positive angle will rotate the element counterclockwise in a right-to-left writing context. But a negative angle will do a clockwise rotation.

Examples of the CSS rotate() Function

Section titled “Examples of the CSS rotate() Function”

Below are some examples of how the CSS rotate() function works.

How to do a zero-degree rotation in CSS

Section titled “How to do a zero-degree rotation in CSS”
img {
  transform: rotate(0deg);
  width: 80%;
}

Try Editing It

The snippet above used the rotate() function to specify a zero-degree (0⁰) rotation for the image element.

How to do a 45-degree rotation in CSS

Section titled “How to do a 45-degree rotation in CSS”
img {
  transform: rotate(45deg);
  width: 80%;
}

Try Editing It

The snippet above used the rotate() function to specify a forty-five-degree (45⁰) rotation for the image element.

How to do a negative seventy-degree rotation in CSS

Section titled “How to do a negative seventy-degree rotation in CSS”
img {
  transform: rotate(-70deg);
  width: 80%;
}

Try Editing It

The snippet above used the rotate() function to specify a negative seventy-degree (70⁰) rotation for the image element.

CSS rotate() Function vs. rotate Property: What’s the Difference?

Section titled “CSS rotate() Function vs. rotate Property: What’s the Difference?”

CSS rotate() functions and CSS rotate property provide two similar ways to specify rotation transformations.

The main differences between the two rotation techniques are as follows:

  • The CSS rotate property allows rotating an element without using the CSS transform property.
  • The CSS rotate property’s syntax is shorter than its function alternative.
  • The CSS rotate property saves you from remembering the specific order to position the transform functions.
  • Browsers calculate the transform functions’ matrix in the order you assigned them to the CSS transform property—from left to right.
  • Browsers calculate the transform properties’ matrix in the following transformation matrix order:
    1. translate
    2. rotate
    3. scale

Here’s an example:

Use CSS rotate property to do a 45-degree rotation:

img {
  rotate: 45deg; /* Equivalent to a transform: rotate(45deg) property */
  width: 80%;
}

Try Editing It

The snippet above used the rotate property to specify a forty-five-degree (45⁰) rotation for the image element.

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