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To animate an element with CSS, define its visual states in an @keyframes rule and tell the element how to run that sequence with an animation declaration. Here is a small entrance effect, including a reduced-motion alternative:

Make a first keyframe animation

Put the CSS below in a stylesheet loaded by your page. The class can be applied to any element with content that should appear:

.card {
  animation: 700ms ease-out 1 both arrive;
}

@keyframes arrive {
  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(0.75rem); }
  to   { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .card {
    animation: none;
    opacity: 1;
    transform: none;
  }
}

The example makes the card fade in while moving upward into place. The media query disables that decorative movement for people who have requested reduced motion, while keeping the card visible and its content available.

What the two CSS parts do

  • @keyframes arrive names and defines the sequence of visual states. from is the start (0%) and to is the end (100%).
  • animation configures how the sequence runs. In this example, 700ms is its duration, ease-out its timing function, 1 its iteration count, both its fill mode, and arrive its name.

MDN describes CSS animations as a way to animate transitions from one CSS style configuration to another. The key distinction is that keyframes say what the element looks like at points in the sequence; animation properties say how the browser runs that sequence.

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Add intermediate states when the motion needs them

A two-state effect can use from and to. To add a waypoint, use percentage selectors. For example, this sequence overshoots slightly before settling:

@keyframes settle {
  0%   { transform: translateY(0.75rem); opacity: 0; }
  75%  { transform: translateY(-0.15rem); opacity: 1; }
  100% { transform: translateY(0); }
}

Intermediate percentages describe positions along the animation’s timeline. They do not change its duration; duration is controlled separately by the animation declaration.

Control timing and repetition

For learning and debugging, longhand properties make each setting explicit. These are the main controls you will commonly adjust:

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Duration and timing function

animation-duration sets how long one iteration takes, such as 700ms or 1s. animation-timing-function controls the pace within that duration: ease-out, for example, starts faster and slows toward the end. A duration of zero seconds gives the animation no visible duration.

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Delay and iteration count

animation-delay postpones the start, such as 200ms. animation-iteration-count sets how many times the sequence runs; use a number such as 2 or infinite for a loop. Repeating decorative motion indefinitely can distract users, so use it only when there is a clear purpose.

Direction, fill mode, and play state

  • animation-direction sets whether repetitions run normally, in reverse, alternate direction, or alternate starting in reverse.
  • animation-fill-mode controls whether the element uses keyframe styles before the animation starts or after it finishes. both applies the relevant styles on both sides of the active interval; in the example it keeps the start state during the delay (if one is added) and the end state after completion.
  • animation-play-state can be running or paused, allowing the sequence to be paused and resumed.

Use shorthand once the settings are clear

The animation shorthand combines these controls. If it contains two time values, the first is duration and the second is delay. If duration is omitted, it defaults to 0s, so the animation has no visible duration. For instance:

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.card {
  animation: 700ms ease-out 200ms 2 alternate both arrive;
}

This sets a 700-millisecond duration, 200-millisecond delay, two iterations, alternating direction, and the both fill mode, using the arrive keyframes. When shorthand is difficult to parse, write the longhand properties instead.

Respect reduced-motion preferences

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) lets a stylesheet provide a different experience when a user has requested reduced motion in their operating system or browser settings. For nonessential animation, remove the movement or substantially reduce it while preserving the information and function of the page. The first example disables the animation and explicitly restores a visible state.

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Do not assume every animation is merely decorative: motion can communicate a state change or guide attention. Consider what the page conveys without it, and preserve that meaning in the reduced-motion experience. MDN advises disabling nonessential motion, including motion triggered by interaction, for users who request reduced motion. W3C’s C39 technique discusses one implementation approach in relation to WCAG 2.3.3; W3C notes that techniques are examples, not mandatory methods.

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Decide whether CSS or script control fits

Approach Where the sequence is authored Useful when Motion preference
CSS keyframe animation In CSS, with keyframes and animation properties The effect is a styling-driven sequence with no need for programmatic control Add a reduced-motion rule such as prefers-reduced-motion when the movement is nonessential
Script-driven animation, including the Web Animations API In script The task benefits from programmatic control Account for reduced-motion preferences in the implementation

CSS is a convenient declarative choice for straightforward effects. MDN describes opportunities for browser-side optimizations in browser-controlled animations, including reducing update work in hidden tabs, but that is not a guarantee that CSS will always be faster or better than JavaScript. The Web Animations API is a related option when programmatic control is useful.

Check the result and fix common problems

  • Nothing appears to animate: confirm that the element has the class whose declaration names the keyframes, that the keyframes name matches exactly, and that the duration is greater than zero. An omitted duration in shorthand defaults to zero.
  • The element starts or ends in an unexpected state: inspect the keyframe declarations and the fill mode. Fill mode determines whether the keyframe styles apply outside the active interval.
  • The sequence runs too quickly or too slowly: adjust duration first, then timing function. If it starts later than expected, check whether a delay is set.
  • The effect keeps repeating: inspect iteration count for infinite or a count greater than one, and check direction if it appears to reverse.
  • The page still moves for a reduced-motion user: make sure the preference query targets the same element and overrides the animation, and check for other movement rules not covered by that query.
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Example request, using the API format from the ScreenshotNeo documentation:

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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

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Further reading

The book CSS Animations and Transitions for the Modern Web is an optional resource on this subject. A Pearson/New Riders sample includes material on CSS animations and keyframes; the sample establishes its subject, not current stock or availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I animate more than opacity and transform?

Keyframes describe CSS style states, so the properties in their declarations determine what changes. Choose properties that communicate the intended effect, and verify support for any advanced animation features you plan to rely on.

Does reduced motion mean the page should hide animated content?

No. The goal is to reduce or remove nonessential movement while retaining the content and functionality users need.

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