CanvasRenderingContext2D: translate() method

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.

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

Syntax

js
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.

A canvas's origin moved on the x and y axes based on the values of the translate method.

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

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.

js
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

Specification
HTML
# dom-context-2d-translate-dev

Browser compatibility

Report problems with this compatibility data on GitHub
desktopmobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
WebView on iOS
translate

Legend

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Full support
Full support

See also