translate()

The `translate()` CSS function repositions an element in the horizontal and/or vertical directions. Its result is a `<transform-function>` data type.

This transformation is characterized by a two-dimensional vector. Its coordinates define how much the element moves in each direction.

Syntax

The `translate()` function is specified as either one or two values.

```translate(tx)

translate(tx, ty)
```

Values

`tx`
Is a `<length>` representing the abscissa (x-coordinate) of the translating vector.
`ty`
Is a `<length>` representing the ordinate of the translating vector (or y-coordinate). If unspecified, its default value is `0`. For example, `translate(2)` is equivalent to `translate(2, 0)`.
Cartesian coordinates on ℝ2 Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ2 Cartesian coordinates on ℝ3 Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ3

A translation is not a linear transformation in ℝ2 and can't be represented using a Cartesian-coordinate matrix.

$\left(\begin{array}{cc}10& tx\\ 01& ty\\ 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right)$ $\left(\begin{array}{cc}10& tx\\ 01& ty\\ 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right)$ $\left(\begin{array}{ccc}10& 0& tx\\ 01& 0& ty\\ 0& 0& 1& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right)$
`[1 0 0 1 tx ty]`

Examples

Using a single-axis translation

HTML

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

CSS

```div {
width: 60px;
height: 60px;
background-color: skyblue;
}

.moved {
transform: translate(10px); /* Equal to translateX(10px) */
background-color: pink;
}
```

Combining y-axis and x-axis translation

HTML

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

CSS

```div {
width: 60px;
height: 60px;
background-color: skyblue;
}

.moved {
transform: translate(10px, 10px);
background-color: pink;
}
```

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Transforms Level 1
The definition of 'translate()' in that specification.
Working Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Please see the `<transform-function>` data type for compatibility info.