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Create an SVG animation by putting animation elements in the SVG markup, applying CSS keyframes or transitions, or controlling the SVG DOM with JavaScript. Use SVG elements for declarative attribute changes and path motion, CSS for visual effects expressible as CSS properties, and JavaScript when an animation must respond to interaction or application state. The examples below show each approach and how to account for reduced-motion preferences.
Choose an animation method
| Method | Best suited to | Typical control |
|---|---|---|
| SVG animation elements | Changing SVG attributes, transforms, or movement along a path | Animation settings declared in SVG markup |
| CSS animations or transitions | Changing CSS properties such as opacity, fill, or transforms | Stylesheets, keyframes, and property changes |
| JavaScript and the SVG DOM | Animation driven by events, data, or application state | Script that accesses SVG elements and attributes |
The choice also depends on where the SVG will be displayed. Inline SVG and SVG referenced in an image context may not support a particular animation mechanism in the same way, so verify the exact feature and delivery context in your target browsers.
Animate SVG attributes with markup
SVG animation elements let you declare changes inside the SVG. The main options include <animate> for changing an attribute or property, <set> for a discrete change, <animateTransform> for transforms, and <animateMotion> for movement along a path.
Working example: move a circle
<svg viewBox="0 0 300 100" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<circle cx="0" cy="50" r="15" fill="blue">
<animate attributeName="cx" from="0" to="300" dur="3s" repeatCount="indefinite" />
</circle>
</svg>Here, attributeName identifies the value being animated, from and to set its endpoints, dur sets the duration, and repeatCount makes the motion repeat. Change the animated attribute and its values to suit the shape and viewBox. For transforms, use <animateTransform> rather than treating a transform as one simple number. For path travel, <animateMotion> accepts a path and can rotate an object to follow the path tangent.
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Check the embedding context
MDN describes <animate> as widely available across browsers since January 2020, but that is not a guarantee that every SVG animation feature behaves identically in all browsers or embedding modes. Test the exact feature in the browsers and context where the SVG will appear.
Animate SVG with CSS
Use CSS keyframes when the animated value is a CSS property. CSS transitions are useful when a property should change smoothly after a state change. The following inline SVG scales and fades a circle using a repeating keyframe animation.
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<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-labelledby="title">
<title id="title">Pulsing circle</title>
<circle class="pulse" cx="50" cy="50" r="20" />
</svg>.pulse {
transform-box: fill-box;
transform-origin: center;
animation: pulse 1.2s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
}
@keyframes pulse {
to { transform: scale(1.25); opacity: 0.65; }
}The example is a starting pattern, not a guarantee that every CSS property works identically in every browser or SVG context. Check support for the specific property and where the SVG is embedded; CSS is not automatically faster or better than SVG animation elements.
Use JavaScript for interaction or dynamic behavior
The SVG DOM exposes SVG elements, attributes, and properties to scripts, and graphical objects can have event handlers. This makes JavaScript appropriate when animation depends on a user action, changing data, or application state. A simple event-driven example can update an SVG attribute directly:
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<circle id="marker" cx="20" cy="30" r="12" fill="teal" />
</svg>
<button id="move" type="button">Move circle</button>
<script>
const marker = document.querySelector("#marker");
document.querySelector("#move").addEventListener("click", () => {
marker.setAttribute("cx", "100");
});
</script>This changes the circle’s position when the button is clicked; it is not itself a timed animation. For timed or stateful motion, script can coordinate updates or trigger CSS classes, but the reviewed standards do not establish a need for any particular JavaScript library.
Support reduced motion and user control
Blinking, flashing, and some other motion can be problematic for people with vestibular disorders, epilepsy, migraine, or other sensitivities. For nonessential CSS motion, honor the operating-system preference with a reduced-motion rule:
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.pulse {
animation: none;
}
}For SVG-markup animations or script-driven motion, also provide a suitable control or alternate state where appropriate. Do not assume a CSS media query by itself will pause every animation mechanism or control an SVG in every embedding context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check and troubleshoot your animation
- The animation does not appear: Check that the SVG is valid, the animated element is nested or targeted correctly, and the attribute name and values match the intended SVG element. Confirm that the browser supports the exact feature in the way the SVG is embedded.
- A transform behaves unexpectedly: Use
<animateTransform>for SVG markup-driven transform animation. For CSS transforms, define the transform box and origin deliberately, as in the CSS example. - CSS changes work inline but not from an image reference: Test the SVG in the intended delivery context. Inline SVG and SVG loaded as an image are not interchangeable for every animation mechanism.
- The motion is inaccessible or distracting: Reduce or remove nonessential motion for users requesting reduced motion, and add a pause or disable control for animation that needs explicit user control.
Reliability and performance
There is no single method that is best for every animation. Prefer the simplest mechanism that expresses the change: SVG elements for declarative attributes or path motion, CSS for CSS-property effects, and JavaScript for interaction or dynamic state. Test on the target browser set and in the actual embedding mode; the available sources do not support a blanket speed ranking among these approaches.
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