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CSS rotateX() Function – How to Rotate Elements around X-axis

rotateX() transforms an element by rotating it three-dimensionally around the X-axis.

Illustration of the 3D Cartesian coordinate system

A three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system showing the X-, Y-, and Z-axis

Syntax of the CSS rotateX() Function

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

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

element {
  transform: rotateX(angle);
}

Note the following:

  • The rotateX(angle) function is equivalent to rotate3d(1, 0, 0, angle).
  • The angle argument specifies the element’s angle of rotation.
  • angle can be in degree, gradian, radian, or turn.
  • An angle argument consists of a number followed by the unit you wish to use—for instance, 45deg.

Examples of the CSS rotateX() Function

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

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

How to do a zero-degree rotation around the X-axis

Section titled “How to do a zero-degree rotation around the X-axis”
img {
  transform: rotateX(0deg);
  width: 80%;
}

Try Editing It

The snippet above used the rotateX() function to specify a zero-degree (0⁰) rotation for the image around the X-axis.

How to do a 70-degree rotation around the X-axis

Section titled “How to do a 70-degree rotation around the X-axis”
img {
  transform: rotateX(70deg);
  width: 80%;
}

Try Editing It

The snippet above used the rotateX() function to specify a seventy-degree (70⁰) rotation for the image around the X-axis.

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

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

CSS rotateX() 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 70-degree rotation around the X-axis:

img {
  rotate: x 70deg; /* Equal to a transform: rotateX(70deg) property */
  width: 80%;
}

Try Editing It

The snippet above used the rotate property to specify a seventy-degree (70⁰) rotation for the image around the X-axis.

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