CSS animation-timing-function Property
Sets the pacing of an animation by establishing acceleration curves
Syntax
animation-timing-function: ease | linear | ease-in | ease-out | ease-in-out | cubic-bezier() | steps();Values
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| ease | Slow start, fast middle, slow end (default) |
| linear | Constant speed |
| ease-in | Slow start, fast end |
| ease-out | Fast start, slow end |
| steps(4) | Stepped animation with 4 steps |
Example
.typewriter {
animation: typing 3s steps(30, end);
}Understanding CSS animation-timing-function
The CSS animation-timing-function property sets the pacing of an animation by establishing acceleration curves. 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-timing-function to values such as ease, linear, ease-in, ease-out, 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-timing-function property include responsive web design, component-based layouts, and creating visually consistent interfaces across devices. It works closely with related properties like animation, animation-duration, transition-timing-function to achieve complex styling effects. Understanding how these properties interact helps you write cleaner, more maintainable stylesheets.
Browser support for animation-timing-function 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.animationTimingFunction or the CSS custom properties (variables) approach for theming.
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