Alaa Amer

CSS Animations & Transitions: Complete Guide to Web Motion Design

CSS Animations & Transitions: Complete Guide to Web Motion Design

Professional Guide by Alaa Amer – Expert Web Developer & Designer

CSS Animations bring life to web interfaces. Learn how to create smooth, engaging motion effects that enhance user experience.

2️⃣ Timing Functions and Easing

/* Built-in timing functions */
.timing-examples {
  transition-duration: 0.5s;
}

.linear {
  transition-timing-function: linear;
}
.ease {
  transition-timing-function: ease;
}
.ease-in {
  transition-timing-function: ease-in;
}
.ease-out {
  transition-timing-function: ease-out;
}
.ease-in-out {
  transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;
}

/* Custom cubic-bezier curves */
.custom-ease-1 {
  transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94);
}
.custom-ease-2 {
  transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(
    0.68,
    -0.55,
    0.265,
    1.55
  ); /* bouncy */
}
.custom-ease-3 {
  transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(
    0.95,
    0.05,
    0.795,
    0.035
  ); /* dramatic */
}

/* Steps timing function */
.steps-animation {
  transition: transform 1s steps(4, end);
}

.steps-animation:hover {
  transform: translateX(200px);
  /* Animation will happen in 4 discrete steps */
}

/* Practical button transitions */
.button {
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
  color: white;
  border: none;
  padding: 12px 24px;
  border-radius: 6px;
  cursor: pointer;
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;

  transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1);
}

.button::before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: -100%;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  background: linear-gradient(
    90deg,
    transparent,
    rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2),
    transparent
  );
  transition: left 0.5s ease;
}

.button:hover {
  transform: translateY(-2px);
  box-shadow: 0 7px 14px rgba(102, 126, 234, 0.4);
}

.button:hover::before {
  left: 100%;
}

.button:active {
  transform: translateY(0);
  transition-duration: 0.1s;
}

4️⃣ Advanced Animation Effects

/* Loading animations */
@keyframes spinner {
  0% {
    transform: rotate(0deg);
  }
  100% {
    transform: rotate(360deg);
  }
}

.loading-spinner {
  width: 40px;
  height: 40px;
  border: 4px solid #f3f3f3;
  border-top: 4px solid #3498db;
  border-radius: 50%;
  animation: spinner 1s linear infinite;
}

/* Dots loading animation */
@keyframes dotsBounce {
  0%,
  80%,
  100% {
    transform: scale(0);
  }
  40% {
    transform: scale(1);
  }
}

.loading-dots {
  display: inline-block;
  position: relative;
  width: 80px;
  height: 80px;
}

.loading-dots div {
  position: absolute;
  top: 33px;
  width: 13px;
  height: 13px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  background: #3498db;
  animation: dotsBounce 1.4s infinite ease-in-out both;
}

.loading-dots div:nth-child(1) {
  left: 8px;
  animation-delay: -0.32s;
}
.loading-dots div:nth-child(2) {
  left: 32px;
  animation-delay: -0.16s;
}
.loading-dots div:nth-child(3) {
  left: 56px;
  animation-delay: 0s;
}

/* Typing animation */
@keyframes typing {
  from {
    width: 0;
  }
  to {
    width: 100%;
  }
}

@keyframes blinkCaret {
  from,
  to {
    border-color: transparent;
  }
  50% {
    border-color: #333;
  }
}

.typewriter {
  overflow: hidden;
  border-right: 2px solid #333;
  white-space: nowrap;
  margin: 0 auto;
  animation:
    typing 3.5s steps(40, end),
    blinkCaret 0.75s step-end infinite;
}

/* Floating animation */
@keyframes float {
  0% {
    transform: translateY(0px);
  }
  50% {
    transform: translateY(-20px);
  }
  100% {
    transform: translateY(0px);
  }
}

.floating-element {
  animation: float 3s ease-in-out infinite;
}

/* Morphing button */
.morph-button {
  background: #3498db;
  color: white;
  border: none;
  padding: 12px 24px;
  border-radius: 25px;
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
  overflow: hidden;
  position: relative;
}

.morph-button:hover {
  border-radius: 4px;
  padding: 12px 40px;
  background: #2980b9;
}

.morph-button::after {
  content: "→";
  position: absolute;
  right: 12px;
  top: 50%;
  transform: translateY(-50%) translateX(20px);
  opacity: 0;
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

.morph-button:hover::after {
  transform: translateY(-50%) translateX(0);
  opacity: 1;
}

/* Staggered animations */
.stagger-container {
  display: flex;
  gap: 10px;
}

.stagger-item {
  width: 20px;
  height: 20px;
  background: #e74c3c;
  border-radius: 50%;
  animation: bounce 0.6s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
}

.stagger-item:nth-child(1) {
  animation-delay: 0s;
}
.stagger-item:nth-child(2) {
  animation-delay: 0.1s;
}
.stagger-item:nth-child(3) {
  animation-delay: 0.2s;
}
.stagger-item:nth-child(4) {
  animation-delay: 0.3s;
}
.stagger-item:nth-child(5) {
  animation-delay: 0.4s;
}

6️⃣ Animation Performance and Best Practices

/* Hardware acceleration */
.gpu-accelerated {
  /* These properties trigger hardware acceleration */
  transform: translateZ(0);
  will-change: transform, opacity;

  /* Or use transform3d for the same effect */
  transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
}

/* Optimized animations - use transform and opacity */
.optimized-animation {
  /* ✅ Good - animates well */
  transition:
    transform 0.3s ease,
    opacity 0.3s ease;
}

.optimized-animation:hover {
  transform: translateY(-5px) scale(1.02);
  opacity: 0.9;
}

/* Use will-change for complex animations */
.complex-hover-card {
  will-change: transform;
  transition: transform 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
}

.complex-hover-card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-8px) rotateX(15deg) rotateY(5deg);
}

/* Remove will-change after animation */
.animation-complete {
  will-change: auto;
}

/* Reduced motion accessibility */
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .respectful-animation {
    animation: none;
    transition: none;
  }

  /* Provide alternative static states */
  .respectful-animation:hover {
    background-color: #e3f2fd;
    border-color: #2196f3;
  }
}

Summary

In this lesson we learned:

✅ CSS Transitions fundamentals ✅ Keyframe Animations and timing functions ✅ Transform properties and 3D effects ✅ Advanced animation techniques ✅ Performance optimization best practices ✅ Complete interactive dashboard project

In the next lesson we'll study CSS Grid Advanced Techniques and Complex Layouts.

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