animation

The animation shorthand CSS property applies an animation between styles. It is a shorthand for animation-name, animation-duration, animation-timing-function, animation-delay, animation-iteration-count, animation-direction, animation-fill-mode, and animation-play-state.

/* @keyframes duration | easing-function | delay |
iteration-count | direction | fill-mode | play-state | name */
animation: 3s ease-in 1s 2 reverse both paused slidein;

/* @keyframes name | duration | easing-function | delay */
animation: slidein 3s linear 1s;

/* @keyframes name | duration */
animation: slidein 3s;

A description of which properties are animatable is available; it's worth noting that this description is also valid for CSS transitions.

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-timing-function

Syntax

The animation property is specified as one or more single animations, separated by commas.

Each individual animation is specified as:

• zero or one occurrences of the following values:
  • <single-transition-easing-function>
  • <single-animation-iteration-count>
  • <single-animation-direction>
  • <single-animation-fill-mode>
  • <single-animation-play-state>
• an optional name for the animation, which may be none, a <custom-ident>, or a <string>
• zero, one, or two <time> values

The order of values within each animation definition is important: the first value that can be parsed as a <time> is assigned to the animation-duration, and the second one is assigned to animation-delay.

The order within each animation definition is also important for distinguishing animation-name values from other keywords. When parsed, keywords that are valid for properties other than animation-name, and whose values were not found earlier in the shorthand, must be accepted for those properties rather than for animation-name. Furthermore, when serialized, default values of other properties must be output in at least the cases necessary to distinguish an animation-name that could be a value of another property, and may be output in additional cases.

Values

<single-animation-iteration-count>

The number of times the animation is played. The value must be one of those available in animation-iteration-count.

<single-animation-direction>

The direction in which the animation is played. The value must be one of those available in 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 animation-fill-mode.

<single-animation-play-state>

Determines whether the animation is playing or not. The value must be one of those available in animation-play-state.

Accessibility concerns

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 no 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

<single-animation>#
where 
<single-animation> = <time> || <easing-function> || <time> || <single-animation-iteration-count> || <single-animation-direction> || <single-animation-fill-mode> || <single-animation-play-state> || [ none | <keyframes-name> ]
where 
<easing-function> = linear | <cubic-bezier-timing-function> | <step-timing-function>
<single-animation-iteration-count> = infinite | <number>
<single-animation-direction> = normal | reverse | alternate | alternate-reverse
<single-animation-fill-mode> = none | forwards | backwards | both
<single-animation-play-state> = running | paused
<keyframes-name> = <custom-ident> | <string>
where 
<cubic-bezier-timing-function> = ease | ease-in | ease-out | ease-in-out | cubic-bezier(<number [0,1]>, <number>, <number [0,1]>, <number>)
<step-timing-function> = step-start | step-end | steps(<integer>[, <step-position>]?)
where 
<step-position> = jump-start | jump-end | jump-none | jump-both | start | end

Examples

Cylon Eye

<div class="view_port">
  <div class="polling_message">
    Listening for dispatches
  </div>
  <div class="cylon_eye"></div>
</div>

.polling_message {
  color: white;
  float: left;
  margin-right: 2%;
}

.view_port {
  background-color: black;
  height: 25px;
  width: 100%;
  overflow: hidden;
}

.cylon_eye {
  background-color: red;
  background-image: linear-gradient(to right,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, .9) 25%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, .1) 50%,
      rgba(0, 0, 0, .9) 75%);
  color: white;
  height: 100%;
  width: 20%;

  -webkit-animation: 4s linear 0s infinite alternate move_eye;
          animation: 4s linear 0s infinite alternate move_eye;
}

@-webkit-keyframes move_eye { from { margin-left: -20%; } to { margin-left: 100%; }  }
        @keyframes move_eye { from { margin-left: -20%; } to { margin-left: 100%; }  }

See Using CSS animations for additional examples.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Quantum CSS notes

• Gecko has a bug whereby when you animate an offscreen element onscreen but specify a delay, Gecko does not repaint on some platforms, e.g. Windows (bug 1383239). This has been fixed in Firefox's new parallel CSS engine (also known as Quantum CSS or Stylo, planned for release in Firefox 57).
• Another Gecko bug means that <details> elements can't be made open by default using the open attribute if they have an animation active on them (bug 1382124). Quantum CSS fixes this.
• A further bug means that animations using em units are not affected by changes to the font-size on the animated element's parent, whereas they should be (bug 1254424). Quantum CSS fixes this.

See also

• Using CSS animations
• JavaScript AnimationEvent API