Use clip-path when you want a defined shape to show and everything outside it hidden. Use mask-image or the mask shorthand when visibility should vary gradually or follow an image’s transparency or brightness. The key difference is geometric clipping versus image-like transparency—not simply two ways to make the same cutout.
What is the difference between clipping and masking in CSS?
Clipping defines a visible region. The portion of an element inside the path or shape is rendered; the portion outside it is not. A clip can have an anti-aliased edge, but that edge softness does not make the clipped area a graded-opacity mask. The W3C describes clipping and masking as two distinct ways to partially or fully hide visual content in its CSS Masking Module Level 1.
Masking instead controls visibility using a mask image. With alpha masking, the mask’s transparency determines how much of the element shows. In luminance mode, brightness also affects visibility: brighter areas reveal more, and darker areas reveal less. That makes masks suitable for partial transparency and fades as well as complete reveals.
When should I use clip-path versus mask-image?
| Need | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A circle, polygon, or other defined geometric crop | clip-path |
The shape defines what remains visible; content outside it is removed. |
| A soft fade, textured reveal, or image-driven transparency | mask-image or mask |
Visibility can vary according to alpha transparency or luminance. |
| A cutout described by an SVG clipping path | clip-path |
Clipping can refer to an SVG <clipPath>. |
| A mask built from a gradient, image, or SVG mask | mask-image or mask |
These accept CSS gradients and image or SVG sources. |
For a basic geometric crop, start with clip-path. For gradual or image-based visibility, start with a mask. This is a practical guide, not a guarantee that one technique is faster in every browser or page.
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How do I make a geometric crop with clip-path?
Use a basic shape such as a circle or polygon:
.circle-crop {
clip-path: circle(40%);
}
.polygon-crop {
clip-path: polygon(50% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%);
}The shape or path defines the visible region. MDN’s introduction to CSS clipping describes basic shapes and SVG references as clip sources. The clip-path reference covers the property and its syntax.
Can a CSS mask make part of an image transparent?
Yes. A mask can make some parts of an element partly visible or fully transparent, depending on the mask source and mode. A gradient is a concise way to create a fade:
.fade-out {
mask-image: linear-gradient(black, transparent);
}MDN documents CSS gradients, imported images, and SVG masks as possible mask sources in its introduction to CSS masking.
Alpha and luminance are different mask modes
- Alpha: transparency controls visibility. The mask’s color does not determine visibility; its opacity does.
- Luminance: brightness contributes to visibility. Bright areas reveal more, while dark areas reveal less.
So “black hides, white shows” is only an appropriate shorthand when describing luminance behavior. In alpha mode, a fully opaque black mask is still opaque; its color alone does not hide the element.
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How do multiple mask layers work?
Comma-separated mask sources create layers. Related mask properties, such as position, size, and repetition, use corresponding comma-separated values for those layers. The available properties also let you configure clipping and compositing. See MDN’s CSS mask properties reference for the property details.
How do clipping, masking, and other effects interact?
MDN describes the rendering order for these effects as filters, then clipping, then masking, then opacity. This ordering matters when an element combines multiple effects: clipping restricts the region before the mask controls visibility within it. For the broader overview, see MDN’s CSS masking guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What about performance and browser support?
The W3C specification notes that basic-shape clipping can perform better and is easier to interpolate. That is qualified guidance, not a measured speed comparison for a particular device, browser, or page. No numeric performance comparison is established here; measure in the actual project if rendering cost matters.
MDN lists clip-path as broadly available since January 2020 and mask-image since December 2023. These are broad-availability dates, not a guarantee that every syntax or advanced value behaves identically across browser versions. MDN also warns that some masking support varies. Check the compatibility information for the exact property values and browsers you need.
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