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Mastering CSS Animation-Name for Dynamic Web Design
Learn how to effectively use the CSS animation-name property to link elements to keyframes.

Discover available options such as 'none', custom identifiers, and global values.
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Introduction

The animation-name property in CSS is crucial for linking an element to one or more @keyframes rules that define its animation. This property lets you specify which animations will be applied to an element. Understanding the animation-name property is essential for creating dynamic and engaging animations. This article will guide you through its syntax, values, and practical examples.

Specification

The animation-name property is defined in the CSS Animations Level 1 specification. This specification provides guidelines for using animations in CSS and ensures consistent behavior across different browsers.

For more details, you can check the official specification:

Syntax

The animation-name property in CSS specifies the names of one or more @keyframes rules. Here’s the basic syntax:

/* Single animation */
animation-name: none;
animation-name: test_05;
animation-name: -specific;
animation-name: sliding-vertically;
/* Multiple animations */
animation-name: test1, animation4;
animation-name:
none,
-moz-specific,
sliding;
/* Global values */
animation-name: inherit;
animation-name: initial;
animation-name: revert;
animation-name: revert-layer;
animation-name: unset;

Explanation

  • Single Animation: Specify a single keyframe name.
  • Multiple Animations: Specify multiple keyframe names separated by commas.
  • Global Values: Use values like inherit, initial, revert, revert-layer, and unset to control the property’s behavior.

Understanding the syntax is key to effectively controlling and customizing animations in your web projects.

Values

The animation-name property accepts several values:

none

Deactivates the animation without changing the order of other identifiers.

<custom-ident>

A custom identifier representing the animation name. It can include letters (a to z), numbers (0 to 9), underscores (_), and dashes (-). The first non-dash character must be a letter, and it cannot start with two dashes.

Example:

animation-name: myAnimation;

Global Values

  • inherit: Inherits the value from the parent element.
  • initial: Sets the property to its default value (none).
  • revert: Reverts the property to its default value as specified by the browser.
  • revert-layer: Reverts the property to its value from a different cascade layer.
  • unset: Resets the property to its natural value.

Note

When specifying multiple animations, they are applied in the order specified by the animation-name property. For mismatched values, refer to Setting multiple animation property values.

Formal Definition

The animation-name property links an element to @keyframes rules that define its animation.

Initial Value

  • Initial Value: none

Applies To

  • Applies To: All elements, including ::before and ::after pseudo-elements.

Inheritance

  • Inherited: No

Computed Value

  • Computed Value: As specified

Animation Type

  • Animation Type: Not animatable

Formal Syntax

animation-name =
[ none | <keyframes-name> ]#
<keyframes-name> =
<custom-ident> | <string>

Explanation

  • none: Deactivates the animation.
  • <keyframes-name>: The name of the @keyframes rule.
  • <custom-ident>: A custom identifier for the animation.
  • <string>: A string value for the keyframe name.

Examples

Here are various examples demonstrating the use of the animation-name property.

Naming an Animation

Create a simple animation that rotates a box when hovered over.

HTML

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

CSS

.box {
background-color: rebeccapurple;
border-radius: 10px;
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
}
.box:hover {
animation-name: rotate;
animation-duration: 0.7s;
}
@keyframes rotate {
0% {
transform: rotate(0);
}
100% {
transform: rotate(360deg);
}
}

Result

Hover over the rectangle to start the animation.

Multiple Animations

Apply multiple animations to an element.

HTML

<div class="multi-animation"></div>

CSS

.multi-animation {
background-color: steelblue;
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
animation-name: slide, fade;
animation-duration: 2s, 1s;
animation-iteration-count: infinite;
}
@keyframes slide {
0% {
transform: translateX(0);
}
100% {
transform: translateX(200px);
}
}
@keyframes fade {
0% {
opacity: 1;
}
100% {
opacity: 0.5;
}
}

Result

The element will slide horizontally while fading in and out.

Using Global Values

Use global values like inherit to control the animation-name property.

HTML

<div class="parent">
<div class="child"></div>
</div>

CSS

.parent {
background-color: lightblue;
width: 200px;
height: 200px;
animation-name: parent-animation;
animation-duration: 2s;
animation-iteration-count: infinite;
}
.child {
background-color: darkblue;
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
animation-name: inherit;
}
@keyframes parent-animation {
0% {
transform: rotate(0);
}
100% {
transform: rotate(360deg);
}
}

Result

The child element will inherit the animation from the parent element, causing both to rotate together.

Note

When specifying multiple animations, ensure the number of animation-name values matches the other animation-* property values. For mismatched values, refer to Setting multiple animation property values.

Browser Compatibility

The animation-name property is widely supported across modern web browsers:

BrowserMinimum VersionRelease Date
Google Chrome43.0May 2015
Mozilla Firefox16.0October 2012
Internet Explorer/Edge10.0September 2012
Opera30.0June 2015
Safari9.0September 2015

Important Considerations

While the animation-name property is widely supported, it’s good practice to test your animations across different browsers and devices to ensure a consistent user experience. Consider providing fallback styles for older browsers that do not support CSS animations.

Note

Mismatched animation properties can cause unexpected behavior. Ensure the number of animation-name values matches the other animation-* property values. For more details, refer to Setting multiple animation property values.

Understanding the animation-name property will help you create dynamic and engaging animations in your web projects.

Useful Resources

To learn more about CSS animations and related properties, check out these resources:

Related CSS Properties

Additional Resources

Related Topics

  • Web Development: Explore other areas of web development, including JavaScript, HTML, and accessibility.
  • Web Design: Learn about design principles, user experience (UX), and user interface (UI) design.
  • Responsive Design: Understand how to create websites that adapt to different screen sizes and devices.

By exploring these resources, you can gain a better understanding of CSS animations and related properties, helping you create more dynamic and engaging web experiences.

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