clip

Warning: Where possible, authors are encouraged to use the newer clip-path property instead.

The clip CSS property defines a visible portion of an element. The clip property applies only to absolutely positioned elements — that is, elements with position:absolute or position:fixed.

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
clip: auto;

/* <shape> values */
clip: rect(1px, 10em, 3rem, 2ch);

/* Global values */
clip: inherit;
clip: initial;
clip: revert;
clip: revert-layer;
clip: unset;

Values

shape

A rectangular shape of the form rect(<top>, <right>, <bottom>, <left>). The <top> and <bottom> values are offsets from the inside top border edge of the box, while <right> and <left> are offsets from the inside left border edge of the box — that is, the extent of the padding box.

The <top>, <right>, <bottom>, and <left> values may be either a <length> or auto. If any side's value is auto, the element is clipped to that side's inside border edge.

auto

The element does not clip (default). This is different from rect(auto, auto, auto, auto), which clips to the element's inside border edges.

Formal definition

Initial value	auto
Applies to	Absolutely positioned elements. In SVG, it applies to elements which establish a new viewport, pattern elements and mask elements.
Inherited	no
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	by computed value

Formal syntax

<rect()> | auto

Examples

Clipping an image

<p class="dotted-border">
  <img src="macarons.png" alt="Original graphic" />
  <img id="top-left" src="macarons.png" alt="Graphic clipped to upper left" />
  <img id="middle" src="macarons.png" alt="Graphic clipped towards middle" />
  <img
    id="bottom-right"
    src="macarons.png"
    alt="Graphic clipped to bottom right" />
</p>

.dotted-border {
  border: dotted;
  position: relative;
  width: 390px;
  height: 400px;
}

#top-left,
#middle,
#bottom-right {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
}

#top-left {
  left: 400px;
  clip: rect(0, 130px, 90px, 0);
}

#middle {
  left: 270px;
  clip: rect(100px, 260px, 190px, 130px);
}

#bottom-right {
  left: 140px;
  clip: rect(200px, 390px, 290px, 260px);
}

css properties clip