CSS shapes
The CSS shapes module describes geometric shapes. It also defines CSS properties that can use the shapes to control the geometry of an element's float area; this area can then be applied to exclusions, or specify an element's content area.
The specification defines several ways to create shapes. Content can be wrapped around or within a shape rather than following the default rectangle shape of the element's box.
Shapes define geometries that can be used as CSS values. This module provides functions for creating ellipses, polygons, and arbitrary geometries. Other CSS modules can make use of shapes defined in this specification, including CSS motion path and CSS masking.
CSS shapes in action
The example below shows an image that has been floated left, and the shape-outside
property applied with a value of circle(50%)
. This creates a circle shape, and the content wrapping the float now wraps around that shape. This changes the length of the wrapping text's line boxes.
<div class="box">
<img
alt="A hot air balloon"
src="https://mdn.github.io/shared-assets/images/examples/round-balloon.png" />
<p>
One November night in the year 1782, so the story runs, two brothers sat
over their winter fire in the little French town of Annonay, watching the
grey smoke-wreaths from the hearth curl up the wide chimney. Their names
were Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier, they were papermakers by trade, and
were noted as possessing thoughtful minds and a deep interest in all
scientific knowledge and new discovery. Before that night—a memorable night,
as it was to prove—hundreds of millions of people had watched the rising
smoke-wreaths of their fires without drawing any special inspiration from
the fact.
</p>
</div>
body {
font: 1.2em / 1.5 sans-serif;
}
img {
float: left;
shape-outside: circle(50%);
}
Reference
Properties
Note: The CSS shapes module introduces the shape-inside
and shape-padding
properties that have not yet been implemented.
Data types
Functions
Terms
Guides
- Overview of shapes
-
Defining basic shapes with the
shape-margin
andclip-path
properties, and debugging basic shapes with Developer Tools. - Shapes from box values
-
Using
border-radius
curvatures and CSS box model values to create shapes. - Basic shapes with
shape-outside
-
Creating rectangles, circles, ellipses, and polygons with CSS shapes, the reference box, and the
shape-outside
property. - Shapes from images
-
Creating shapes from semi-transparent image files and CSS Gradients.
Related concepts
CSS motion path module
CSS masking module
CSS backgrounds and borders module
border-radius
shorthand
CSS box model module
<box-edge>
data type
Specifications
Specification |
---|
CSS Shapes Module Level 1 |
CSS Shapes Module Level 2 |
See also
- CSS Shapes resources
- CSS Shapes 101 via alistapart.com (2014)
- Creating non-rectangular layouts with CSS Shapes via sarasoueidan.com (2013)
- How to use CSS Shapes in your web design via tutsplus.com (2016)
- How to get started with CSS Shapes via webdesignerdepot.com (2015)
- Edit CSS shapes with the shape path editor via mozilla.org (2018) (Video)