backface-visibility
===================

The **`backface-visibility`** CSS property sets whether the back face of an element is visible when turned towards the user.

Try it
------

An element's back face is a mirror image of its front face. Though invisible in 2D, the back face can become visible when a transformation causes the element to be rotated in 3D space. (This property has no effect on 2D transforms, which have no perspective.)

Syntax
------


```css
/\* Keyword values \*/
backface-visibility: visible;
backface-visibility: hidden;

/\* Global values \*/
backface-visibility: inherit;
backface-visibility: initial;
backface-visibility: revert;
backface-visibility: revert-layer;
backface-visibility: unset;
```


The `backface-visibility` property is specified as one of the keywords listed below.

### Values

`visible`

The back face is visible when turned towards the user.

`hidden`

The back face is hidden, effectively making the element invisible when turned away from the user.

Formal definition
-----------------

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Initial value | `visible` |
| Applies to | transformable elements |
| Inherited | no |
| Computed value | as specified |
| Animation type | discrete |

Formal syntax
-------------
```

backface-visibility =   
  visible  |  
  hidden     
  
```

Examples
--------

### Cube with transparent and opaque faces

This example shows a cube with transparent faces, and one with opaque faces.

#### HTML


```html
<table>
  <tr>
    <th><code>backface-visibility: visible;</code></th>
    <th><code>backface-visibility: hidden;</code></th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <div class="container">
        <div class="cube showbf">
          <div class="face front">1</div>
          <div class="face back">2</div>
          <div class="face right">3</div>
          <div class="face left">4</div>
          <div class="face top">5</div>
          <div class="face bottom">6</div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <p>
        Since all faces are partially transparent, the back faces (2, 4, 5) are
        visible through the front faces (1, 3, 6).
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
      <div class="container">
        <div class="cube hidebf">
          <div class="face front">1</div>
          <div class="face back">2</div>
          <div class="face right">3</div>
          <div class="face left">4</div>
          <div class="face top">5</div>
          <div class="face bottom">6</div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <p>The three back faces (2, 4, 5) are hidden.</p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>
```


#### CSS


```css
/\* Classes that will show or hide the
 three back faces of the "cube" \*/
.showbf div {
  backface-visibility: visible;
}

.hidebf div {
  backface-visibility: hidden;
}

/\* Define the container div, the cube div, and a generic face \*/
.container {
  width: 150px;
  height: 150px;
  margin: 75px 0 0 75px;
  border: none;
}

.cube {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  perspective: 550px;
  perspective-origin: 150% 150%;
  transform-style: preserve-3d;
}

.face {
  display: block;
  position: absolute;
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  border: none;
  line-height: 100px;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  font-size: 60px;
  color: white;
  text-align: center;
}

/\* Define each face based on direction \*/
.front {
  background: rgb(0 0 0 / 30%);
  transform: translateZ(50px);
}

.back {
  background: rgb(0 255 0 / 100%);
  color: black;
  transform: rotateY(180deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.right {
  background: rgb(196 0 0 / 70%);
  transform: rotateY(90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.left {
  background: rgb(0 0 196 / 70%);
  transform: rotateY(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.top {
  background: rgb(196 196 0 / 70%);
  transform: rotateX(90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.bottom {
  background: rgb(196 0 196 / 70%);
  transform: rotateX(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

/\* Make the table a little nicer \*/
th,
p,
td {
  background-color: #eeeeee;
  margin: 0px;
  padding: 6px;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  text-align: left;
}
```


#### Result

Specifications
--------------

| Specification |
| --- |
| CSS Transforms Module Level 2 # backface-visibility-property |

Browser compatibility
---------------------

BCD tables only load in the browser with JavaScript enabled. Enable JavaScript to view data.

See also
--------

* Using CSS transforms