CSS Linear Gradients
To create a linear gradient you must define at least two color stops. Color stops are the colors you want to render smooth transitions among. You can also set a starting point and a direction (or an angle) along with the gradient effect.
Syntax
background-image: linear-gradient(direction, color-stop1, color-stop2, ...);
Direction - Top to Bottom (this is default)
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: linear-gradient(red, yellow);
}
Direction - Left to Right
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: linear-gradient(to right, red , yellow);
}
Direction - Diagonal
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom right, red, yellow);
}
Using Angles
If you want more control over the direction of the gradient, you can define an angle, instead of the predefined directions (to bottom, to top, to right, to left, to bottom right, etc.). A value of 0deg is equivalent to "to top". A value of 90deg is equivalent to "to right". A value of 180deg is equivalent to "to bottom".
Syntax
background-image: linear-gradient(angle, color-stop1, color-stop2);
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: linear-gradient(180deg, red, yellow);
}
Using Multiple Color Stops
The following example shows a linear gradient (from top to bottom) with multiple color stops:
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: linear-gradient(red, yellow, green);
}
The following example shows how to create a linear gradient (from left to right) with the color of the rainbow and some text:
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: linear-gradient(to right, red,orange,yellow,green,blue,indigo,violet);
}
Using Transparency
CSS gradients also support transparency, which can be used to create fading effects.
To add transparency, we use the rgba() function to define the color stops. The last parameter in the rgba() function can be a value from 0 to 1, and it defines the transparency of the color: 0 indicates full transparency, 1 indicates full color (no transparency).
The following example shows a linear gradient that starts from the left. It starts fully transparent, transitioning to full color red:
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: linear-gradient(to right, rgba(255,0,0,0), rgba(255,0,0,1));
}
Repeating a linear-gradient
The repeating-linear-gradient() function is used to repeat linear gradients:
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: repeating-linear-gradient(red, yellow 10%, green 20%);
}
CSS Radial Gradients
A radial gradient is defined by its center.
To create a radial gradient you must also define at least two color stops.
Syntax
background-image: radial-gradient(shape size at position, start-color, ..., last-color);
By default, shape is ellipse, size is farthest-corner, and position is center.
Radial Gradient - Evenly Spaced Color Stops (this is default)
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: radial-gradient(red, yellow, green);
}
Radial Gradient - Differently Spaced Color Stops
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: radial-gradient(red 5%, yellow 15%, green 60%);
}
Set Shape
The shape parameter defines the shape. It can take the value circle or ellipse. The default value is ellipse.
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: radial-gradient(circle, red, yellow, green);
}
Use of Different Size Keywords
The size parameter defines the size of the gradient. It can take four values:
- closest-side
- farthest-side
- closest-corner
- farthest-corner
EXAMPLE:
#grad1 {
background-image: radial-gradient(closest-side at 60% 55%, red, yellow, black);
}
#grad2 {
background-image: radial-gradient(farthest-side at 60% 55%, red, yellow, black);
}
Repeating a radial-gradient
The repeating-radial-gradient() function is used to repeat radial gradients:
EXAMPLE:
#grad {
background-image: repeating-radial-gradient(red, yellow 10%, green 15%);
}