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. Do not use it in old or new projects. Pages or Web apps using it may break at any time.

Summary

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.

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

Initial valueauto
Applies toabsolutely positioned elements
Inheritedno
Mediavisual
Computed valueauto if specified as auto, otherwise a rectangle with four values, each of which is auto if specified as auto or the computed length otherwise
Animatableyes, as a rectangle
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

/* 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;

Values

<shape>
A rectangular <shape> of the form rect(<top>, <right>, <bottom>, <left>) or of the form rect(<top> <right> <bottom> <left>) (which is a more backwards compatible syntax) <top> and <bottom> specify offsets from the inside top border edge of the box, and <right>, and <left> specify offsets from the inside left border edge of the box — that is, the extent of the padding box.
<top>, <right>, <bottom>, and <left> may either have a <length> value 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

.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*/
}
<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>

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Masking 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 compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 1.0 1.0 (1.0) 4.0[1] 7.0 1.0 (85)[1]
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support ? ? ? ? ?

[1] Internet Explorer up to version 7.0 and Safari up to at least 5.1.7 incorrectly interpret clip: auto as clip: rect(auto, auto, auto, auto).

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: mrstork,