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exp()

The exp() CSS function is an exponential function that takes an number as an argument and returns the mathematical constant e raised to the power of the given number.

The mathematical constant e is the base of natural logarithms, and is approximately 2.718281828459045.

The exp(number) function contains a calculation which returns the same value as pow(e, number).

Syntax

css

/* A <number> value */
width: calc(100px * exp(-1)); /* 100px * 0.367879441171442 = 36px */
width: calc(100px * exp(0)); /* 100px * 1 = 100px */
width: calc(100px * exp(1)); /* 100px * 2.718281828459045 = 217px */

Parameter

The exp(number) function accepts only one value as its parameter.

number

A calculation which resolves to a <number>. Representing the value to be raised by a power of e.

Return value

Returns a non-negative <number> representing enumber, which is the result of calculating e raised to the power of number.

  • If number is -Infinity, the result is 0.
  • If number is 0, the result is 1.
  • If number is 1, the result is e (i.e. 2.718281828459045).
  • If number is Infinity, the result is Infinity.

Formal syntax

<exp()> = 
  exp( <calc-sum> )  

<calc-sum> = 
  <calc-product> [ [ '+' | '-' ] <calc-product> ]*  

<calc-product> = 
  <calc-value> [ [ '*' | '/' ] <calc-value> ]*  

<calc-value> = 
  <number>         |
  <dimension>      |
  <percentage>     |
  <calc-constant>  |
  ( <calc-sum> )   

<calc-constant> = 
  e          |
  pi         |
  infinity   |
  -infinity  |
  NaN

Examples

Rotate elements

The exp() function can be used to rotate elements as it return a <number>.

HTML

html

<div class="box box-1"></div>
<div class="box box-2"></div>
<div class="box box-3"></div>
<div class="box box-4"></div>
<div class="box box-5"></div>

CSS

css

div.box {
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  background: linear-gradient(orange, red);
}
div.box-1 {
  transform: rotate(calc(1turn * exp(-1))); // 0.3678794411714423turn
}
div.box-2 {
  transform: rotate(calc(1turn * exp(-0.75))); // 0.4723665527410147turn
}
div.box-3 {
  transform: rotate(calc(1turn * exp(-0.5))); // 0.6065306597126334turn
}
div.box-4 {
  transform: rotate(calc(1turn * exp(-0.25))); // 0.7788007830714049turn
}
div.box-5 {
  transform: rotate(calc(1turn * exp(0))); // 1turn
}

Result

Scale headings by fixed ratio

The exp() function can be useful for strategies like CSS modular scale, which relates all the font-sizes on a page to each other by a fixed ratio.

HTML

html

<h1>Heading 1</h1>
<h2>Heading 2</h2>
<h3>Heading 3</h3>
<h4>Heading 4</h4>
<h5>Heading 5</h5>
<h6>Heading 6</h6>

CSS

css

h1 {
  font-size: calc(1rem * exp(1.25)); // 3.4903429574618414rem
}
h2 {
  font-size: calc(1rem * exp(1)); // 2.718281828459045rem
}
h3 {
  font-size: calc(1rem * exp(0.75)); // 2.117000016612675rem
}
h4 {
  font-size: calc(1rem * exp(0.5)); // 1.6487212707001282rem
}
h5 {
  font-size: calc(1rem * exp(0.25)); // 1.2840254166877414rem
}
h6 {
  font-size: calc(1rem * exp(0)); // 1rem
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Values and Units Module Level 4
# exponent-funcs

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
exp No No 118 No No 15.4 No No 118 No 15.4 No

See also

© 2005–2023 MDN contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/exp