CSS animations allow web developers to create attractive and dynamic interfaces without relying on JavaScript or Flash. By combining keyframes and animation properties, CSS animations can allow web pages with smooth transitions, eye-catching effects, and delightful user experiences. In this blog, we will explore CSS animation properties which is necessary to go through a simple example.
Understanding Animation
At its core, animation is the presentation of images or frames in fast succession to create a sense of movement. Animation in web design can range from simple transitions, such as the fading of a button, to complex sequences, such as a fully interactive story. These animations can improve usability by providing visual information, highlighting important features, or just adding a touch of delight to the user experience. Learning these animation techniques can be an integral part of software courses, which equip students with the skills to enhance web design and user interfaces.
CSS Animation Properties
CSS animations are defined using a set of properties that control the appearance, behaviour, and timing of the animations. The primary properties involved are:
1.@keyframes
Defines the sequence of styles that the element will go through at specified times.
Syntax:
2. Animation-name
Specifies the name of the @keyframes animation.
Syntax:
3. Animation-duration
Sets the length of time the animation will take to complete one cycle.
Syntax:
4. Animation-timing-function
Sets the length of time the animation will take to complete one cycle.
Syntax:
5. Animation-delay
Specifies a delay before the animation starts.
Syntax:
6. Animation-iteration-count
Indicates how many times the animation should play (e.g., a number, infinite).
Syntax:
7. Animation-direction
Determines whether the animation should play in reverse on alternate cycles (e.g., normal, reverse, alternate).
Syntax:
8. Animation-fill-mode
Specifies how the element’s styles should be applied before and after the animation (e.g., none, forwards, backwards, both).
Syntax:
9. Animation-play-state
Allows the animation to be paused or running (e.g., running, paused).
Syntax:
Example: Creating a Simple Animation
Let’s create a simple animation that changes the background colour of a box from red to yellow over four seconds and then reverses back to red, repeating infinitely.
HTML:
CSS (styles.css):
In this example, the `.box` element smoothly transitions its background colour from red to yellow and back to red, creating a continuous, eye-catching animation.
Check out the video to learn CSS Animation properties.
Conclusion
CSS animations are a strong and efficient way to add dynamic behaviour to web pages. By using CSS animation properties, developers can create attractive, engaging, and responsive user experiences without additional scripts. As web standards evolve, the possibilities for stunning visualisations with CSS continue to expand, offering more creative opportunities for web designers and developers. Our web training academy can provide the necessary skills and knowledge to master these techniques, ensuring that designers and developers are well-equipped to leverage the full potential of CSS animations.