animation
The animation
shorthand CSS property applies an animation between styles. It is a shorthand for {{cssxref("animation-name")}}, {{cssxref("animation-duration")}}, {{cssxref("animation-timing-function")}}, {{cssxref("animation-delay")}}, {{cssxref("animation-iteration-count")}}, {{cssxref("animation-direction")}}, {{cssxref("animation-fill-mode")}}, {{cssxref("animation-play-state")}}, and {{cssxref("animation-timeline")}}.
{{EmbedInteractiveExample("pages/css/animation.html")}}
Constituent properties
This property is a shorthand for the following CSS properties:
animation-delay
animation-direction
animation-duration
animation-fill-mode
animation-iteration-count
animation-name
animation-play-state
animation-timeline
animation-timing-function
Syntax
/* @keyframes duration | easing-function | delay |
iteration-count | direction | fill-mode | play-state | name */
animation: 3s ease-in 1s 2 reverse both paused slidein;
/* @keyframes duration | easing-function | delay | name */
animation: 3s linear 1s slidein;
/* two animations */
animation:
3s linear slidein,
3s ease-out 5s slideout;
The animation
property is specified as one or more single animations, separated by commas.
Each individual animation is specified as:
-
zero, one, or two occurrences of the {{cssxref("<time>")}} value
-
zero or one occurrences of the following values:
-
an optional name for the animation, which may be
none
, a {{cssxref("<custom-ident>")}}, or a {{cssxref("<string>")}}
Note: {{cssxref("animation-timeline")}}, {{cssxref("animation-range-start")}}, and {{cssxref("animation-range-end")}} are not currently included in this list, as current implementations are reset-only. This means that including
animation
resets a previously-declaredanimation-timeline
value toauto
and previously-declaredanimation-range-start
andanimation-range-end
values tonormal
, but these properties cannot be set viaanimation
. When creating CSS scroll-driven animations, you need to declare these properties after declaring anyanimation
shorthand for it to take effect.
Values
<single-easing-function>
- : Determines the type of transition. The value must be one of those available in {{cssxref("easing-function")}}.
<single-animation-iteration-count>
- : The number of times the animation is played. The value must be one of those available in {{cssxref("animation-iteration-count")}}.
<single-animation-direction>
- : The direction in which the animation is played. The value must be one of those available in {{cssxref("animation-direction")}}.
<single-animation-fill-mode>
- : Determines how styles should be applied to the animation's target before and after its execution. The value must be one of those available in {{cssxref("animation-fill-mode")}}.
<single-animation-play-state>
- : Determines whether the animation is playing or not. The value must be one of those available in {{cssxref("animation-play-state")}}.
Description
The order of time values within each animation definition is important: the first value that can be parsed as a {{cssxref("<time>")}} is assigned to the {{cssxref("animation-duration")}}, and the second one is assigned to {{cssxref("animation-delay")}}.
The order of other values within each animation definition is also important for distinguishing an {{cssxref("animation-name")}} value from other values. If a value in the animation
shorthand can be parsed as a value for an animation property other than animation-name
, then the value will be applied to that property first and not to animation-name
. For this reason, the recommended practice is to specify a value for animation-name
as the last value in a list of values when using the animation
shorthand; this holds true even when you specify multiple, comma-separated animations using the animation
shorthand.
While an animation name must be set for an animation to be applied, all values of the animation
shorthand are optional, and default to the initial value for each long-hand animation
component. The initial value of animation-name
is none
, meaning if no animation-name
value is declared in the animation
shorthand property, there is no animation to apply on any of the properties.
When the animation-duration
value is omitted from the animation
shorthand property, the value for this property defaults to 0s
. In this case, the animation will still occur (the animationStart
and animationEnd
events will be fired) but no animation will be visible.
In the case of the animation-fill-mode
forwards value, animated properties behave as if included in a set will-change
property value. If a new stacking context is created during the animation, the target element retains the stacking context after the animation has finished.
Accessibility
Blinking and flashing animation can be problematic for people with cognitive concerns such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Additionally, certain kinds of motion can be a trigger for Vestibular disorders, epilepsy, and migraine and Scotopic sensitivity.
Consider providing a mechanism for pausing or disabling animation as well as using the Reduced Motion Media Query to create a complimentary experience for users who have expressed a preference for reduced animated experiences.
- Designing Safer Web Animation For Motion Sensitivity · An A List Apart Article
- An Introduction to the Reduced Motion Media Query | CSS-Tricks
- Responsive Design for Motion | WebKit
- MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 2.2 explanations
- Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.2 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0
Formal definition
Formal syntax
Examples
[!NOTE] Animating CSS Box Model properties is discouraged. Animating any box model property is inherently CPU intensive; consider animating the transform property instead.
Sun Rise
Here we animate a yellow sun across a light blue sky. The sun rises to the center of the viewport and then falls out of sight.
<div class="sun"></div>
:root {
overflow: hidden; /* hides any part of the sun below the horizon */
background-color: lightblue;
display: flex;
justify-content: center; /* centers the sun in the background */
}
.sun {
background-color: yellow;
border-radius: 50%; /* creates a circular background */
height: 100vh; /* makes the sun the size of the viewport */
aspect-ratio: 1 / 1;
animation: 4s linear 0s infinite alternate sun-rise;
}
@keyframes sun-rise {
from {
/* pushes the sun down past the viewport */
transform: translateY(110vh);
}
to {
/* returns the sun to its default position */
transform: translateY(0);
}
}
{{EmbedLiveSample('Sun_Rise')}}
Animating Multiple Properties
Adding onto the sun animation in the previous example, we add a second animation changing the color of the sun as it rises and sets. The sun starts off dark red when it is below the horizon and changes to a bright orange as it reaches the top.
<div class="sun"></div>
:root {
overflow: hidden;
background-color: lightblue;
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
}
.sun {
background-color: yellow;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 100vh;
aspect-ratio: 1 / 1;
animation: 4s linear 0s infinite alternate animating-multiple-properties;
}
/* it is possible to animate multiple properties in a single animation */
@keyframes animating-multiple-properties {
from {
transform: translateY(110vh);
background-color: red;
filter: brightness(75%);
}
to {
transform: translateY(0);
background-color: orange;
/* unset properties i.e. 'filter' will revert to default values */
}
}
{{EmbedLiveSample('Animating Multiple Properties')}}
Applying Multiple Animations
Here is a sun that rises and falls on a lightblue background. The sun gradually rotates through a rainbow of colors. The timing of the sun's position and color are independent.
<div class="sun"></div>
:root {
overflow: hidden;
background-color: lightblue;
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
}
.sun {
background-color: yellow;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 100vh;
aspect-ratio: 1 / 1;
/* multiple animations are separated by commas, each animation's parameters are set independently */
animation:
4s linear 0s infinite alternate rise,
24s linear 0s infinite psychedelic;
}
@keyframes rise {
from {
transform: translateY(110vh);
}
to {
transform: translateY(0);
}
}
@keyframes psychedelic {
from {
filter: hue-rotate(0deg);
}
to {
filter: hue-rotate(360deg);
}
}
{{EmbedLiveSample('Applying Multiple Animations')}}
Cascading Multiple Animations
Here is a yellow sun on a lightblue background. The sun bounces between the left and right sides of the viewport. The sun remains in the viewport even though a rise animation is defined. The rise animation's transform property is 'overwritten' by the bounce animation.
<div class="sun"></div>
:root {
overflow: hidden;
background-color: lightblue;
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
}
.sun {
background-color: yellow;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 100vh;
aspect-ratio: 1 / 1;
/*
animations declared later in the cascade will override the
properties of previously declared animations
*/
/* bounce 'overwrites' the transform set by rise, hence the sun only moves horizontally */
animation:
4s linear 0s infinite alternate rise,
4s linear 0s infinite alternate bounce;
}
@keyframes rise {
from {
transform: translateY(110vh);
}
to {
transform: translateY(0);
}
}
@keyframes bounce {
from {
transform: translateX(-50vw);
}
to {
transform: translateX(50vw);
}
}
{{EmbedLiveSample('Cascading Multiple Animations')}}
See Using CSS animations for additional examples.
Specifications
Browser compatibility
See also
- Using CSS animations
- JavaScript {{domxref("AnimationEvent")}} API