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clip

Deprecated
This feature has been removed from the Web standards. Though some browsers may still support it, it is in the process of being dropped. Avoid using it and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

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

/* Keyword value */
clip: auto;

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

/* Global values */
clip: inherit;
clip: initial;
clip: unset;

Syntax

Warning: This property is deprecated. Use clip-path instead.

Initial value auto
Applies to absolutely positioned elements
Inherited no
Media visual
Computed value auto if specified as auto, otherwise a rectangle with four values, each of which is auto if specified as auto or the computed length otherwise
Animation type a rectangle
Canonical order the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Values

<<shape>()>
A rectangular <<shape>()> of the form rect(<top>, <right>, <bottom>, <left>) or rect(<top> <right> <bottom> <left>) (which is a more backwards-compatible syntax). The <top> and <bottom> values specify offsets from the inside top border edge of the box, while <right> and <left> specify 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 value). Note that this is distinct from rect(auto, auto, auto, auto), which does clip to the inside border edges of the element.

Formal syntax

<shape> | auto

where
<shape> = rect(<top>, <right>, <bottom>, <left>)

Examples

CSS

.dotted-border { 
  border: dotted;  
  position: relative; 
  width: 536px;
  height: 350px;
}

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

#top-left {
  left: 360px;
  clip: rect(0px, 175px, 113px, 0px); 
}


#middle {
  left: 280px;
  clip: rect(119px, 255px, 229px, 80px); 
  /* standard syntax, unsupported by Internet Explorer 4-7 */
}

#bottom-right {
  left: 200px;
  clip: rect(235px 335px 345px 160px);
  /* non-standard syntax, but supported by all major browsers*/
}

HTML

<p class="dotted-border">
  <img src="https://developer.mozilla.org/@api/deki/files/3613/=hut.jpg" title="Original graphic">
  <img id="top-left" src="https://developer.mozilla.org/@api/deki/files/3613/=hut.jpg" title="Graphic clipped to upper left">
  <img id="middle" src="https://developer.mozilla.org/@api/deki/files/3613/=hut.jpg" title="Graphic clipped towards middle">
  <img id="bottom-right" src="https://developer.mozilla.org/@api/deki/files/3613/=hut.jpg" title="Graphic clipped to bottom right">
</p>

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Masking Module Level 1
The definition of 'clip' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Deprecates clip property, suggests clip-path as replacement.
CSS Transitions
The definition of 'clip' in that specification.
Working Draft Defines clip as animatable.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'clip' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

Desktop
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 1 12 1 4
4
Before Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer incorrectly interprets clip: auto as clip: rect(auto, auto, auto, auto).
7 1
1
Safari incorrectly interprets clip: auto as clip: rect(auto, auto, auto, auto).
Mobile
Android webview Chrome for Android Edge Mobile Firefox for Android Opera for Android iOS Safari Samsung Internet
Basic support ? ? Yes ? ? ? ?

See also

© 2005–2018 Mozilla Developer Network and individual contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/clip