CSS Animations

CSS animations allow HTML elements to gradually change their styles over time. Instead of snapping instantly from one style to another, animations make transitions smooth and eye-catching.

With animations, you can:

Change multiple CSS properties at once (like color, size, or position).
Control how long an animation runs.
Decide if it repeats forever or just once.
Delay animations to start later.

To create an animation, you’ll need two main things:

@keyframes rule – defines how the animation will behave.
Animation properties – applied to an element to make the animation run.

The `@keyframes` Rule

Keyframes describe the stages of an animation. You can use from and to (start and end), or use percentages to create multiple steps.

Example 1: Simple color change

The <div> smoothly changes from red to yellow in 4 seconds.

<div class="box">Animate</div>

/* Keyframes: background changes from red → yellow */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { background-color: red; }
      to   { background-color: yellow; }
    }

    /* Styling + applying animation */
    .box {
      width: 150px;
      height: 150px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: white;
      font-weight: bold;
      border-radius: 8px;

      /* Animation properties */
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 4s;
      animation-timing-function: ease-in-out;
      animation-iteration-count: infinite; /* loops forever */
      animation-direction: alternate;      /* goes red→yellow then yellow→red */
    }

Example 2: Multi-step animation (percentages)

This box changes color multiple times within 4 seconds.

<div class="box">Animate</div>

/* Multi-step animation using percentages */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      0%   { background-color: red; }
      25%  { background-color: yellow; }
      50%  { background-color: blue; }
      100% { background-color: green; }
    }

    .box {
      width: 150px;
      height: 150px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-weight: bold;
      color: white;
      border-radius: 8px;

      /* Apply animation */
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 4s;
      animation-timing-function: linear;
      animation-iteration-count: infinite; /* keeps looping */
    }

Example 3: Moving + color animation

The box moves around while changing colors.

<div class="box">Animate</div>

/* Animation: moves in a square + changes color */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      0%   { background-color: red;   left: 0px;   top: 0px; }
      25%  { background-color: yellow; left: 200px; top: 0px; }
      50%  { background-color: blue;   left: 200px; top: 200px; }
      75%  { background-color: green;  left: 0px;   top: 200px; }
      100% { background-color: red;   left: 0px;   top: 0px; }
    }

    .box {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      position: relative;  /* required for left/top to work */
      background-color: red;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-weight: bold;
      color: white;
      border-radius: 8px;

      /* Apply animation */
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 4s;
      animation-timing-function: linear;
      animation-iteration-count: infinite;
    }

CSS Animation Properties

CSS animations are controlled by a set of properties that define how an element animates.

`animation-name`

Specifies which keyframes to use.

<div>Animation Name</div>

 /* Define keyframes */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { background-color: red; }
      to   { background-color: yellow; }
    }

    /* Apply animation-name only */
    div {
      width: 150px;
      height: 150px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: white;
      font-weight: bold;
      border-radius: 8px;

      animation-name: myAnimation; /* only animation-name is set */
      animation-duration: 4s;      /* required for animation to run */
    }

`animation-duration`

Defines how long one cycle lasts.

<div>Animation Duration</div>

 /* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { background-color: red; }
      to   { background-color: yellow; }
    }

    /* Apply animation */
    div {
      width: 150px;
      height: 150px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: white;
      font-weight: bold;
      border-radius: 8px;

      animation-name: myAnimation;    /* specifies the keyframes */
      animation-duration: 5s;         /* animation runs for 5 seconds */
      animation-iteration-count: infinite; /* optional: loop forever */
    }

`animation-delay`

Delays when the animation starts. Can also be negative (starts partway through).

 <div class="positive-delay"></div>
  <div class="negative-delay"></div>

/* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { background-color: red; transform: translateX(0); }
      to   { background-color: yellow; transform: translateX(200px); }
    }

    /* Positive delay: waits 2s before starting */
    .positive-delay {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: inline-block;
      margin-right: 20px;
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 4s;
      animation-delay: 2s;   /* Wait 2s before starting */
      animation-fill-mode: forwards;
    }

    /* Negative delay: starts as if already 2s in */
    .negative-delay {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: inline-block;
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 4s;
      animation-delay: -2s;  /* Starts 2s into the animation */
      animation-fill-mode: forwards;
    }

`animation-iteration-count`

Sets how many times the animation runs.

<div class="three-times"></div>
  <div class="infinite"></div>

/* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { background-color: red; transform: translateX(0); }
      to   { background-color: yellow; transform: translateX(200px); }
    }

    /* Runs 3 times */
    .three-times {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      margin-right: 20px;
      display: inline-block;
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 2s;
      animation-iteration-count: 2;  /* Runs 3 times */
      animation-fill-mode: forwards;
    }

    /* Runs forever */
    .infinite {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: inline-block;
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 2s;
      animation-iteration-count: infinite;  /* Runs forever */
      animation-fill-mode: forwards;
    }

`animation-direction`

Controls the playback direction.

normal → default (0% → 100%)
reverse → backwards (100% → 0%)
alternate → forward then backward
alternate-reverse → backward then forward

 <div class="alternate">animation-direction</div>

/* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { background-color: red; transform: translateX(0); }
      to   { background-color: yellow; transform: translateX(200px); }
    }

    /* Animate forward then backward */
    .alternate {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: inline-block;
      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 2s;
      animation-iteration-count: infinite;  /* loops forever */
      animation-direction: alternate;       /* forward then backward */
      animation-fill-mode: forwards;
    }

`animation-timing-function`

Controls speed curve of the animation.

linear → constant speed
ease → slow → fast → slow
ease-in → slow start
ease-out → slow end
ease-in-out → slow start & end
cubic-bezier(n,n,n,n) → custom curve

 <div class="ease-in-out">animation-timing-function</div>

/* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { transform: translateX(0); background-color: red; }
      to   { transform: translateX(300px); background-color: yellow; }
    }

    /* Apply ease-in-out timing */
    .ease-in-out {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: inline-block;
      color: white;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      text-align: center ;
      justify-content: center;
      font-weight: bold;
      border-radius: 8px;

      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 3s;
      animation-iteration-count: infinite;
      animation-timing-function: ease-in-out; /* slow start & end */
    }

`animation-fill-mode`

Defines style applied before and/or after the animation.

none → default, no styles retained
forwards → keep last keyframe after animation ends
backwards → apply first keyframe during delay
both → apply both forwards & backwards

<div class="forwards">animation-fill-mode</div>

/* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { transform: translateX(0); background-color: red; }
      to   { transform: translateX(300px); background-color: yellow; }
    }

    /* Apply forwards fill mode */
    .forwards {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: white;
      font-weight: bold;
      border-radius: 8px;

      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 3s;
      animation-fill-mode: forwards; /* retains final keyframe after finishing */
    }

`animation-play-state`

Controls pause/play of the animation.

<div class="box">Animation-play-state</div>

  /* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      from { transform: translateX(0); background-color: red; }
      to   { transform: translateX(300px); background-color: yellow; }
    }

    /* Animated box */
    .box {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: white;
      font-weight: bold;
      border-radius: 8px;

      animation-name: myAnimation;
      animation-duration: 4s;
      animation-iteration-count: infinite;
      animation-play-state: play; /* plays by default */
      transition: background-color 0.3s;
    }

    /* Pause animation on hover */
    .box:hover {
      animation-play-state: paused; /* pauses when mouse is over */
    }

Shorthand `animation` Property

Combine all properties in a single line:

<div class="box">Shorthand animation Property</div>

    /* Keyframes animation */
    @keyframes myAnimation {
      0%   { transform: translateX(0); background-color: red; }
      50%  { transform: translateX(200px); background-color: blue; }
      100% { transform: translateX(0); background-color: green; }
    }

    /* Apply animation shorthand */
    .box {
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: white;
      font-weight: bold;
      border-radius: 8px;

      animation: myAnimation 3s linear 2s infinite alternate forwards;
      /* shorthand order:
         name duration timing-function delay iteration-count direction fill-mode
      */
    }

Real-Life Example: Bouncing Ball

The circle moves up and down endlessly, like a bouncing ball!

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Bouncing Ball</title>
  <style>
    body {
      height: 300px; /* ensures the ball has space to move */
      display: flex;
      align-items: flex-start;
      justify-content: center;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 20px;
    }

    @keyframes bounce {
      0%, 100% { top: 0; }
      50% { top: 200px; }
    }

    .ball {
      width: 50px;
      height: 50px;
      background: tomato;
      border-radius: 50%;
      position: relative;
      animation: bounce 2s ease-in-out infinite;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="ball"></div>
</body>
</html>

Quick Reference: CSS Animation Properties

Property	Description
`@keyframes`	Defines the animation steps
`animation`	Shorthand for all animation properties
`animation-name`	Name of the keyframes animation
`animation-duration`	Duration of one cycle
`animation-delay`	Start delay
`animation-iteration-count`	Number of times it runs
`animation-direction`	Play direction
`animation-timing-function`	Speed curve
`animation-fill-mode`	Styles applied before/after animation
`animation-play-state`	Running or paused

CSS Animations

The @keyframes Rule

CSS Animation Properties

animation-name

animation-duration

animation-delay

animation-iteration-count

animation-direction

animation-timing-function

animation-fill-mode

animation-play-state

Shorthand animation Property

Real-Life Example: Bouncing Ball

Quick Reference: CSS Animation Properties

Keep Reading

The `@keyframes` Rule

`animation-name`

`animation-duration`

`animation-delay`

`animation-iteration-count`

`animation-direction`

`animation-timing-function`

`animation-fill-mode`

`animation-play-state`

Shorthand `animation` Property