Lesson Content

Why Animations and Transitions Matter

Animations and transitions bring life to web pages, making them more engaging and interactive. They can guide users' attention, provide visual feedback, and improve the overall user experience when used thoughtfully.

Key Concepts

CSS Transitions
- Definition: CSS transitions allow property changes in CSS values to occur smoothly over a specified duration.
- Usage: Ideal for simple, state-based changes (e.g., hover effects).
- Properties:
  - transition-property: Specifies the CSS properties to animate.
  - transition-duration: Defines how long the transition takes.
  - transition-timing-function: Describes the speed curve (e.g., ease, linear, ease-in-out).
  - transition-delay: Sets a delay before the transition starts.
CSS Animations
- Definition: CSS animations enable more complex sequences of changes over time, using keyframes.
- Usage: Suitable for continuous animations or multi-step sequences.
- Properties:
  - @keyframes: Defines the animation's keyframes (start, intermediate, end states).
  - animation-name: Specifies the name of the @keyframes animation.
  - animation-duration: Duration of one cycle of the animation.
  - animation-timing-function: Speed curve of the animation.
  - animation-delay: Delay before the animation starts.
  - animation-iteration-count: Number of times the animation runs (infinite for endless).
  - animation-direction: Direction of the animation (normal, reverse, alternate).
Differences Between Transitions and Animations
- Transitions: Triggered by state changes (e.g., :hover) and involve a single, smooth change.
- Animations: Can run independently of state changes, involve multiple keyframes, and offer more control over the sequence and repetition.
Best Practices
- Performance: Use hardware-accelerated properties (like transform and opacity) to ensure smooth animations.
- Subtlety: Avoid overusing animations to prevent distraction; ensure they enhance rather than hinder user experience.
- Accessibility: Provide options to reduce motion for users who prefer minimal animations (@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)).

Day 13: CSS Animations and Transitions