<easing-function>

The <easing-function> CSS data type denotes a mathematical function that describes the rate at which a numerical value changes.

This transition between two values may be applied in different situations. It may be used to describe how fast values change during animations. This lets you vary the animation's speed over the course of its duration. It may also be used to interpolate between two colors in a color gradient. You can specify an easing function for CSS transition and animation properties.

Syntax

/* linear function and keyword */
/* linear(<list-of-points>) */
linear(1, -0.5, 0);
linear;

/* cubic-bezier function and keywords */
/* cubic-bezier(<x1>, <y1>, <x2>, <y2>) */
cubic-bezier(0.42, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0);
ease;
ease-in;
ease-out;
ease-in-out;

/* steps function and keywords */
/* steps(<number-of-steps>, <direction>) */
steps(4, end);
step-start;
step-end;

Values

list-of-points

List of linear stops

x1, y1, x2, y2

<number> values representing the abscissas and ordinates of the P1 and P2 points defining the cubic Bézier curve. x1 and x2 must be in the range [0, 1], otherwise the value is invalid.

ease

Indicates that the interpolation starts slowly, accelerates sharply, and then slows gradually towards the end. This keyword represents the easing function cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.1, 0.25, 1.0). It is similar to ease-in-out, though it accelerates more sharply at the beginning.

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' with a curved line quickly rising from the origin to X1 Y1.

ease-in

Indicates that the interpolation starts slowly, then progressively speeds up until the end, at which point it stops abruptly. This keyword represents the easing function cubic-bezier(0.42, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0).

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' shows a shallow curved line from the origin that straightens out as it approaches X1 Y1.

ease-in-out

Indicates that the interpolation starts slowly, speeds up, and then slows down towards the end. This keyword represents the easing function cubic-bezier(0.42, 0.0, 0.58, 1.0). At the beginning, it behaves like the ease-in function; at the end, it is like the ease-out function.

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' shows a symmetrical, 'S'-shaped line curving from the origin to X1 Y1.

ease-out

Indicates that the interpolation starts abruptly and then progressively slows down towards the end. This keyword represents the easing function cubic-bezier(0.0, 0.0, 0.58, 1.0).

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' shows a straight diagonal line that slightly curves as it gets close to X1 Y1.

number-of-steps

A strictly positive <integer>, representing the amount of equidistant treads composing the stepping function.

direction

One of the following keywords that indicate when the jumps occur:

  • jump-start denotes that the first step or jump happens when the interpolation begins.
  • jump-end denotes that the last step or jump happens when the interpolation ends.
  • jump-both denotes that jumps occur at both the 0% and 100% marks, effectively adding a step during the interpolation iteration.
  • jump-none denotes no jump on either end. Instead, holding at both the 0% mark and the 100% mark, each for 1/n of the duration.
  • start is the equivalent of jump-start.
  • end is the equivalent of jump-end. This is the default.
step-start

Indicates that the interpolation jumps immediately to its final state, where it stays until the end. This keyword represents the easing function steps(1, jump-start) or steps(1, start).

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' with one point at X0 Y0 and another at X1 Y1. A horizontal line extends from the Y axis to X1 Y1.

step-end

Indicates that the interpolation stays in its initial state until the end, at which point it jumps directly to its final state. This keyword represents the easing function steps(1, jump-end) or steps(1, end).

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' with one point at X0 Y0 and another at X1 Y1. A horizontal line extends on the X axis from the origin towards X0 Y1.

Description

There are three types of easing functions:

Linear easing function

The linear() function defines a piecewise linear function that interpolates linearly between its points, allowing you to approximate more complex animations like bounce and elastic effects. The interpolation is done at a constant rate from beginning to end. A typical use of the linear() function is to provide many points to create the illusion of a curve.

When you define the linear() function, you specify the linear easing points as a list, as in, linear(0, 0.25, 1). This linear() function produces an easing function that moves linearly from 0, to 0.25, then to 1.

Consider another example of the function: linear(0, 0.25 75%, 1). This produces a linear easing function that spends 75% of the time transitioning from 0 to .25 and the last 25% transitioning from .25 to 1.

The linear keyword produces a linear() function with two points. This is equivalent to the easing function cubic-bezier(0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0).

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' shows a straight diagonal line extending from the origin to X1 Y1.

Cubic Bézier easing function

The cubic-bezier() functional notation defines a cubic Bézier curve. The easing functions in the cubic-bezier subset of easing functions are often called "smooth" easing functions because they can be used to smooth down the start and end of the interpolation. They correlate an input ratio to an output ratio, both expressed as <number>s. For these values, 0.0 represents the initial state, and 1.0 represents the final state.

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' shows an 'S'-shaped line curving from the origin to X1 Y1. The Bezier handle at X0 Y0 is labeled 'P₁ = (0.075, 0.75)' and at X1 Y1 is labeled 'P₂ = (0.0875, 0.36)'.

A cubic Bézier curve is defined by four points: P0, P1, P2, and P3.

  • The points P0 and P3 represent the start and the end of the curve. In CSS, these points are fixed as the coordinates are ratios (the abscissa the ratio of time, the ordinate the ratio of the output range).
  • P0 is (0, 0) and represents the initial time or position and the initial state.
  • P3 is (1, 1) and represents the final time or position and the final state.

Not all cubic Bézier curves are suitable as easing functions because not all are mathematical functions; i.e., curves that for a given abscissa have zero or one value. With P0 and P3 fixed as defined by CSS, a cubic Bézier curve is a function, and is therefore valid, if and only if the abscissas of P1 and P2 are both in the [0, 1] range.

Cubic Bézier curves with the P1 or P2 ordinate outside the [0, 1] range can cause the value to go farther than the final state and then return. In animations, for some properties, such as left or right, this creates a kind of "bouncing" effect.

Graph of the easing function showing the output ratio going above 1, to 1.5, at the transition durations midpoint.

However, certain properties will restrict the output if it goes outside an allowable range. For example, a color component greater than 255 or smaller than 0 will be clipped to the closest allowed value (255 and 0, respectively). Some cubic-bezier() curves exhibit this property.

Graph of the easing function showing the output ratio reaching 1, and then staying at 1 for the rest of the time.

When you specify an invalid cubic-bezier curve, CSS ignores the whole property.

The cubic-bezier() function can also be specified using these keywords, each of which represent a specific cubic-bezier() notation: ease, ease-in, ease-out, and ease-in-out.

Step easing function

The steps() functional notation defines a step function that divides the domain of output values in equidistant steps. This subclass of step functions are sometimes also called staircase functions.

These are a few examples illustrating the steps() function:

steps(2, jump-start)
steps(2, start)

A 2D graph of 'Time ratio' to 'Output ratio' with points at X0 Y0, X0.5 Y0.5, and X1 Y1. Horizontal lines from the second and third points extend 0.5 units towards the Y axis.

steps(4, jump-end)
steps(4, end)

A 2D steps graph showing four steps, with a jump from the fourth step to the final value at the 100% mark.

steps(5, jump-none)

A 2D steps graph showing five steps with no jump. Beginning 20% of the time is at the 0% mark, and the last 20% is at the 100% mark.

steps(3, jump-both)

A 2D steps graph showing points at X0 Y0, X0 Y0.25, X0.25 Y0.5, X0.75 Y0.75 and X1 Y1. The second, third, and fourth points have horizontal lines extending 0.25 units away from the Y axis.

The steps() function can also be specified using these keywords, each of which represent a specific steps() notation: step-start and step-end.

Formal syntax

<easing-function> = 
linear |
<linear-easing-function> |
<cubic-bezier-easing-function> |
<step-easing-function>

<linear-easing-function> =
linear( <linear-stop-list> )

<cubic-bezier-easing-function> =
ease |
ease-in |
ease-out |
ease-in-out |
cubic-bezier( <number [0,1]> , <number> , <number [0,1]> , <number> )

<step-easing-function> =
step-start |
step-end |
steps( <integer> [, <step-position> ]? )

<linear-stop-list> =
[ <linear-stop> ]#

<step-position> =
jump-start |
jump-end |
jump-none |
jump-both |
start |
end

<linear-stop> =
<number> &&
<linear-stop-length>?

<linear-stop-length> =
<percentage>{1,2}

Examples

Comparing the easing functions

This example provides an easy comparison between the different easing functions using an animation. From the drop-down menu, you can select an easing function – there are a couple of keywords and some cubic-bezier() and steps() options. After selecting an option, you can start and stop the animation using the provided button.

HTML

<div>
  <div></div>
</div>
<ul>
  <li>
    <button class="animation-button">Start animation</button>
  </li>
  <li>
    <label for="easing-select">Choose an easing function:</label>
    <select id="easing-select">
      <option selected>linear</option>
      <option>linear(0, 0.5 50%, 1)</option>
      <option>ease</option>
      <option>ease-in</option>
      <option>ease-in-out</option>
      <option>ease-out</option>
      <option>cubic-bezier(0.1, -0.6, 0.2, 0)</option>
      <option>cubic-bezier(0, 1.1, 0.8, 4)</option>
      <option>steps(5, end)</option>
      <option>steps(3, start)</option>
      <option>steps(4)</option>
    </select>
  </li>
</ul>

CSS

body > div {
  position: relative;
  height: 100px;
}

div > div {
  position: absolute;
  width: 50px;
  height: 50px;
  background-color: blue;
  background-image: radial-gradient(
    circle at 10px 10px,
    rgba(25, 255, 255, 0.8),
    rgba(25, 255, 255, 0.4)
  );
  border-radius: 50%;
  top: 25px;
  animation: 1.5s infinite alternate;
}

@keyframes move-right {
  from {
    left: 10%;
  }

  to {
    left: 90%;
  }
}

li {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

JavaScript

const selectElem = document.querySelector("select");
const startBtn = document.querySelector("button");
const divElem = document.querySelector("div > div");

startBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
  if (startBtn.textContent === "Start animation") {
    divElem.style.animationName = "move-right";
    startBtn.textContent = "Stop animation";
    divElem.style.animationTimingFunction = selectElem.value;
  } else {
    divElem.style.animationName = "unset";
    startBtn.textContent = "Start animation";
  }
});

selectElem.addEventListener("change", () => {
  divElem.style.animationTimingFunction = selectElem.value;
});

Result

Using the cubic-bezier() function

These cubic Bézier curves are valid for use in CSS:

/* The canonical Bézier curve with four <number> in the [0,1] range. */
cubic-bezier(0.1, 0.7, 1.0, 0.1)

/* Using <integer> is valid because any <integer> is also a <number>. */
cubic-bezier(0, 0, 1, 1)

/* Negative values for ordinates are valid, leading to bouncing effects.*/
cubic-bezier(0.1, -0.6, 0.2, 0)

/* Values greater than 1.0 for ordinates are also valid. */
cubic-bezier(0, 1.1, 0.8, 4)

These cubic Bézier curves definitions are invalid:

/* Though the animated output type may be a color,
   Bézier curves work with numerical ratios.*/
cubic-bezier(0.1, red, 1.0, green)

/* Abscissas must be in the [0, 1] range or
   the curve is not a function of time. */
cubic-bezier(2.45, 0.6, 4, 0.1)

/* The two points must be defined, there is no default value. */
cubic-bezier(0.3, 2.1)

/* Abscissas must be in the [0, 1] range or
   the curve is not a function of time. */
cubic-bezier(-1.9, 0.3, -0.2, 2.1)

Using the steps() function

These easing functions are valid:

/* There are 5 treads, the last one happens
   right before the end of the animation. */
steps(5, end)

/* A two-step staircase, the first one happening
   at the start of the animation. */
steps(2, start)

/* The second parameter is optional. */
steps(2)

Note: If the animation contains multiple stops, then the steps specified in the steps() function will apply to each section. Therefore, an animation with three segments and steps(2) will contain 6 steps in total, 2 per segment.

These easing functions are invalid:

/* The first parameter must be an <integer> and
   cannot be a real value, even if it is equal to one. */
steps(2.0, jump-end)

/* The amount of steps must be non-negative. */
steps(-3, start)

/* There must be at least one step.*/
steps(0, jump-none)

Specifications

Specification
CSS Easing Functions Level 1
# easing-functions

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also