CSS animation Property
Shorthand for all animation properties applying keyframe-based animations to elements
Syntax
animation: <name> <duration> <timing>? <delay>? <count>? <direction>? <fill>? <state>?;Values
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| none | No animation |
| spin 1s linear infinite | Continuous spinning |
| fadeIn 0.3s ease-out | Fade in effect |
| bounce 0.5s ease-in-out 3 | Three bounces |
Example
@keyframes fadeIn {
from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(8px); }
to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
}
.card {
animation: fadeIn 0.4s ease-out;
}Understanding CSS animation
The CSS animation property shorthand for all animation properties applying keyframe-based animations to elements. As part of the Transform & Animation module in CSS, it is one of the most commonly used properties for controlling the visual presentation of web pages.
You can set animation to values such as none, spin 1s linear infinite, fadeIn 0.3s ease-out, bounce 0.5s ease-in-out 3, among others. Each value changes how the browser renders the affected element, giving you fine-grained control over your page layout and design. Choosing the right value depends on the specific design requirements of your project.
Common use cases for the animation property include responsive web design, component-based layouts, and creating visually consistent interfaces across devices. It works closely with related properties like animation-name, animation-duration, animation-timing-function to achieve complex styling effects. Understanding how these properties interact helps you write cleaner, more maintainable stylesheets.
Browser support for animation is excellent across all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. For older browsers, consider using fallback values or progressive enhancement strategies. The property can also be set dynamically via JavaScript using element.style.animation or the CSS custom properties (variables) approach for theming.
Related Properties
animation-nameSpecifies the names of @keyframes rules describing the animation to apply
animation-durationSets the length of time an animation takes to complete one cycle
animation-timing-functionSets the pacing of an animation by establishing acceleration curves
transitionShorthand for transition-property, transition-duration, transition-timing-function, and transition-delay
will-changeHints to the browser about which properties are expected to change for optimization
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