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CSSAnimationKeyframesMotion

CSS Animation and Keyframes Guide

Master CSS animations with keyframes for creating engaging motion and interactions.

B
Bootspring Team
Engineering
December 18, 2018
6 min read

CSS animations enable complex motion sequences using keyframes. Here's how to create engaging animations.

Basic Keyframes

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Animation Properties

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Timing Functions

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Fill Modes

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Direction Options

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Practical Animations

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Loading Spinners

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Attention Seekers

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Entrance Animations

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Exit Animations

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Multiple Animations

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Animation Events (JavaScript)

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Performance Optimization

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Reduced Motion

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Best Practices

Performance: ✓ Animate transform and opacity ✓ Use will-change sparingly ✓ Avoid layout thrashing ✓ Use GPU acceleration Timing: ✓ Keep durations short (200-500ms) ✓ Use appropriate easing ✓ Stagger multiple elements ✓ Add subtle delays Accessibility: ✓ Respect prefers-reduced-motion ✓ Don't rely solely on animation ✓ Provide pause controls ✓ Avoid rapid flashing Avoid: ✗ Animating layout properties ✗ Too many simultaneous animations ✗ Infinite animations without purpose ✗ Motion sickness triggers

Conclusion

CSS animations with keyframes enable rich motion design without JavaScript. Use transform and opacity for best performance, respect user preferences with prefers-reduced-motion, and keep durations short for better UX. Combine multiple animations with delays for sophisticated sequences, and always provide meaningful motion that enhances rather than distracts.

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