clip

Deprecated: This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. 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.

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

css 

/* 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 .

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
Inherited no
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

Formal syntax 

clip = 
  <rect()>  |
  auto

Examples

Clipping an image

html 

<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" />
    id="bottom-right"
    src="macarons.png"
    alt="Graphic clipped to bottom right" />

css
.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);