Animations appear smooth when timed to sync with screen redraws that typically happen 60 times per second using requestAnimationFrame in JavaScript.
requestAnimationFrame schedules animation code to run just before the next frame is shown, ensuring fluid motion and avoiding stuttering.
The cycle of website frame processing includes JavaScript work, layout changes, paint, fitting within the window between screen refreshes.
Using requestAnimationFrame, animations need to align with the window of time between screen refreshes to avoid lag or jumpiness in motion.
The callback passed to requestAnimationFrame runs at the browser's scheduled time, maintaining synchronization with screen updates.
requestAnimationFrame adjusts timing automatically based on display refresh rates, ensuring smoother animations without the need for manual adjustments.
Callbacks with requestAnimationFrame run one per frame, preventing flooding of updates and ensuring everything stays in sync with screen rendering.
Compared to setInterval or setTimeout, requestAnimationFrame better aligns with screen refreshes for more natural-looking animations.
The timestamp provided by requestAnimationFrame can be used to control animation speed and adjust motion based on elapsed time.
By calling requestAnimationFrame within the callback, a loop is created to continue the animation frame by frame, ensuring precise control over timing.