How to use the CSS @keyframes rule to create custom animations

Animations can add a lot of visual interest to websites and user interfaces. While there are many pre-built animation libraries available, CSS allows you to create your own custom animations using the @keyframes rule. In this article, we will go over the basics of using the @keyframes rule to create custom animations, and show you how to apply them to elements on your website.

@keyframes

The @keyframes rule in CSS is used to create custom animations. It works by defining a set of keyframes, which are points in the animation where the properties of the element being animated are defined. These keyframes can then be used to animate the element by specifying the animation property and setting the animation-name to the name of the keyframe animation.

Here is an example of using the @keyframes rule to create a simple animation that causes an element to fade in:

/* Define the keyframe animation */
@keyframes fadeIn {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
  }
}

/* Use the animation on an element */
.example {
  animation-name: fadeIn;
  animation-duration: 1s;
}

In this example, the @keyframes rule is used to define an animation called "fadeIn". The animation has two keyframes, one with an opacity of 0, and one with an opacity of 1. These keyframes are defined using the "from" and "to" keywords, which are shorthands for 0% and 100% respectively.

The animation is then applied to an element by setting the animation-name property to "fadeIn" and the animation-duration property to 1 second.

You can also specify the timing function using animation-timing-function, set delay using animation-delay properties and set number of iteration using animation-iteration-count.

You can also specify the keyframe selectors in %:

/* Define the keyframe animation */
@keyframes move {
  0% {
    transform: translateX(0);
  }
  50% {
    transform: translateX(50px);
  }
  100% {
    transform: translateX(0);
  }
}

Here in this example, animation is defined with 3 keyframes, which will move the element from left to right and then back left again.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the @keyframes rule in CSS is a powerful tool that allows you to create custom animations for your website. By defining keyframes and applying them to elements using the animation properties, you can create a wide range of animations that will make your website more engaging and interactive. With a little bit of practice and experimentation, you can master the @keyframes rule and create animations that will make your website stand out. Remember to use browser compatibility prefixes for better cross-browser compatibility. Use it in combination with other CSS properties and see the magic.