Mastering CSS Animation-Name for Dynamic Web Design

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:

• CSS Animations Level 1 - animation-name

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:

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

• Using CSS Animations: A detailed guide on creating and controlling animations with CSS.
• JavaScript AnimationEvent API: How to use JavaScript to interact with and control CSS animations.
• animation: A shorthand property to set all animation properties at once.
• animation-composition: Sets the behavior of overlapping animations.
• animation-delay: Defines the delay before an animation starts.
• animation-direction: Specifies the direction of the animation.
• animation-duration: Sets the duration of the animation cycle.
• animation-fill-mode: Defines how styles are applied before and after the animation.
• animation-iteration-count: Specifies the number of times an animation cycle should play.
• animation-play-state: Controls the play state of the animation.
• animation-timeline: Defines the timeline for the animation.
• animation-timing-function: Specifies the speed curve of the animation.

Additional Resources

• CSS Transition Property Reference: Learn about CSS transitions and how they differ from animations.
• HTML Reference Guide: A guide to HTML elements and attributes.
• MDN Web Docs: Extensive documentation and examples for CSS properties and techniques.

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.