CSS3 Linear Gradient in a circular way

Question

I am wondering if it is possible to do something like this with css gradients:

I have searched a lot and all the gradients are either "Linear" or "Radial". My desired gradient is linear in a circular way!

Answer 1

-- Updated with information from early 2022 --

It's doable now - at least with most browsers. The CSS property conic-gradient can easily achieve this:

html, body { margin: 0; padding: 0; }
.box {
    position: absolute;
    width: 200px;
    height: 200px;
    left: 100px;
}
.colorwheel {
    background: conic-gradient(red, yellow, lime, aqua, blue, magenta, red);
    border-radius:50%;
}
.fallback {
    text-align: center;
    padding: 50px 0;
}

<div class="fallback box">
    If you can read<br>this, your browser<br>doesn't support<br>conic-gradient yet.
</div>
<div class="colorwheel box"></div>

This CSS function is specified in an editor's draft of CSS Images Module Level 4 and is currently implement by most browsers including many mobile browsers. Check Can I use for current support.

Answer 2

This is called Conical Gradient and is not currently possible in pure CSS, but it has been proposed for the CSS Image Values 4 draft. Recently Lea Verou created a polyfill for them, there is also a PostCSS plugin that does the same.

Answer 3

CSS

This can be completed using multiple sections which are then rotated to create a circle.

.wheel,
.umbrella,
.color {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%;
  width: 15em;
  height: 15em;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}
.wheel {
  overflow: hidden;
  width: 15em;
  height: 15em;
  position: relative;
}
.umbrella {
  position: relative;
  -webkit-transform: scale(1.35);
}
.color,
.color:nth-child(n+7):after {
  clip: rect(0, 15em, 15em, 7.5em);
}
.color:after,
.color:nth-child(n+7) {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%;
  left: calc(50% - 7.5em);
  top: calc(50% - 7.5em);
  width: 15em;
  height: 15em;
  clip: rect(0, 7.5em, 15em, 0);
}
.color:nth-child(1):after {
  background-color: #9ED110;
  transform: rotate(30deg);
  z-index: 12;
}
.color:nth-child(2):after {
  background-color: #50B517;
  transform: rotate(60deg);
  z-index: 11;
}
.color:nth-child(3):after {
  background-color: #179067;
  transform: rotate(90deg);
  z-index: 10;
}
.color:nth-child(4):after {
  background-color: #476EAF;
  transform: rotate(120deg);
  z-index: 9;
}
.color:nth-child(5):after {
  background-color: #9f49ac;
  transform: rotate(150deg);
  z-index: 8;
}
.color:nth-child(6):after {
  background-color: #CC42A2;
  transform: rotate(180deg);
  z-index: 7;
}
.color:nth-child(7):after {
  background-color: #FF3BA7;
  transform: rotate(180deg);
}
.color:nth-child(8):after {
  background-color: #FF5800;
  transform: rotate(210deg);
}
.color:nth-child(9):after {
  background-color: #FF8100;
  transform: rotate(240deg);
}
.color:nth-child(10):after {
  background-color: #FEAC00;
  transform: rotate(270deg);
}
.color:nth-child(11):after {
  background-color: #FFCC00;
  transform: rotate(300deg);
}
.color:nth-child(12):after {
  background-color: #EDE604;
  transform: rotate(330deg);
}

<div class="wheel">
  <ul class="umbrella">
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
  </ul>
</div>

To then get the blur, just use the transform function to add an appropriate blur.

.wheel,
.umbrella,
.color {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%;
  width: 15em;
  height: 15em;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}
.wheel {
  overflow: hidden;
  width: 15em;
  height: 15em;
  position: relative;
}
.umbrella {
  position: relative;
  filter: blur(.75em);
  -webkit-filter: blur(.75em);
  -moz-filter: blur(.75em);
  -o-filter: blur(.75em);
  -ms-filter: blur(.75em);
  filter: url(#blur);
  filter: progid: DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Blur(PixelRadius='.75');
  -webkit-transform: scale(1.35);
}
.color,
.color:nth-child(n+7):after {
  clip: rect(0, 15em, 15em, 7.5em);
}
.color:after,
.color:nth-child(n+7) {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%;
  left: calc(50% - 7.5em);
  top: calc(50% - 7.5em);
  width: 15em;
  height: 15em;
  clip: rect(0, 7.5em, 15em, 0);
}
.color:nth-child(1):after {
  background-color: #9ED110;
  transform: rotate(30deg);
  z-index: 12;
}
.color:nth-child(2):after {
  background-color: #50B517;
  transform: rotate(60deg);
  z-index: 11;
}
.color:nth-child(3):after {
  background-color: #179067;
  transform: rotate(90deg);
  z-index: 10;
}
.color:nth-child(4):after {
  background-color: #476EAF;
  transform: rotate(120deg);
  z-index: 9;
}
.color:nth-child(5):after {
  background-color: #9f49ac;
  transform: rotate(150deg);
  z-index: 8;
}
.color:nth-child(6):after {
  background-color: #CC42A2;
  transform: rotate(180deg);
  z-index: 7;
}
.color:nth-child(7):after {
  background-color: #FF3BA7;
  transform: rotate(180deg);
}
.color:nth-child(8):after {
  background-color: #FF5800;
  transform: rotate(210deg);
}
.color:nth-child(9):after {
  background-color: #FF8100;
  transform: rotate(240deg);
}
.color:nth-child(10):after {
  background-color: #FEAC00;
  transform: rotate(270deg);
}
.color:nth-child(11):after {
  background-color: #FFCC00;
  transform: rotate(300deg);
}
.color:nth-child(12):after {
  background-color: #EDE604;
  transform: rotate(330deg);
}

<div class="wheel">
  <ul class="umbrella">
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
    <li class="color"></li>
  </ul>
</div>

<svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <filter id="blur">
    <feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="3" />
  </filter>
</svg>

Please note, in older versions of IE or old browsers, snippets won't work as they use HTML5 technology to run. I recommend testing in a local environment.

Answer 4

I'm afraid CSS doesn't allow for a linear-radial gradient. However, svg provides a solution, albeit crude. See the below topics for a solution.

How to draw a linear gradient circle by svg?

svg multiple color on circle stroke