transition-timing-function

The transition-timing-function CSS property is used to describe how the intermediate values of the CSS properties being affected by a transition effect are calculated. This in essence lets you establish an acceleration curve, so that the speed of the transition can vary over its duration.

This acceleration curve is defined using one <timing-function> for each property to be transitioned. 

/* Keyword values */
transition-timing-function: ease;
transition-timing-function: ease-in;
transition-timing-function: ease-out;
transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;
transition-timing-function: linear;
transition-timing-function: step-start;
transition-timing-function: step-end;
/* Function values */
transition-timing-function: steps(4, end);
transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.1, 0.7, 1.0, 0.1);
transition-timing-function: frames(10);
/* Multiple timing functions */
transition-timing-function: ease, step-start, cubic-bezier(0.1, 0.7, 1.0, 0.1);
/* Global values */
transition-timing-function: inherit;
transition-timing-function: initial;
transition-timing-function: unset;

You may specify multiple timing functions; each one will be applied to the corresponding property as specified by the transition-property property, which acts as a master list. If there are fewer functions specified than in the master list, missing values are set to the initial value (ease). If there are more timing functions, the list is simply truncated to the right size. In both case the CSS declaration stays valid.

Initial valueease
Applies toall elements, ::before and ::after pseudo-elements
Inheritedno
Mediainteractive
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Values

<timing-function>
Each <timing-function> represents the timing function to link to the corresponding property to transition, as defined in transition-property.

Formal syntax

<single-transition-timing-function>#
where 
<single-transition-timing-function> = <single-timing-function>
where 
<single-timing-function> = linear | <cubic-bezier-timing-function> | <step-timing-function> | <frames-timing-function>
where 
<cubic-bezier-timing-function> = ease | ease-in | ease-out | ease-in-out | cubic-bezier(<number>, <number>, <number>, <number>)
<step-timing-function> = step-start | step-end | steps(<integer>[, [ start | end ] ]?)
<frames-timing-function> = frames(<integer>)

Examples

transition-timing-function: ease

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease;
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease;
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

transition-timing-function: ease-in

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
     -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease-in;
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease-in;
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

transition-timing-function: ease-out

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-out;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease-out;
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-out;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease-out;
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

transition-timing-function: ease-in-out

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

transition-timing-function: linear

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: linear;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: linear;
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: linear;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: linear;
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

transition-timing-function: step-start

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: step-start;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: step-start;
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: step-start;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: step-start;
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

transition-timing-function: step-end

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: step-end;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: step-end;
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: step-end;
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: step-end;
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

transition-timing-function: steps(4, end)

 <div class="parent">
  <div class="box">Lorem</div>
</div>
  
.parent { width: 250px; height:125px;}
.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    background-color: red;
    font-size: 20px;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: steps(4, end);
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: steps(4, end);
}
.box1{
    width: 50px;
    height: 50px;
    background-color: blue;
    color: yellow;
    font-size: 18px;
    left: 150px;
    top:25px;
    position:absolute;
    -webkit-transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    -webkit-transition-duration:2s;
    -webkit-transition-timing-function: steps(4, end);
    transition-property: width height background-color font-size left top color;
    transition-duration:2s;
    transition-timing-function: steps(4, end);
}

function updateTransition() {
  var el = document.querySelector("div.box");
  if (el) {
    el.className = "box1";
  } else {
    el = document.querySelector("div.box1");
    el.className = "box";
  }
  return el;
}
var intervalID = window.setInterval(updateTransition, 7000);

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Transitions
The definition of 'transition-timing-function' in that specification.		 Working Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Edge Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 26 (Yes)-webkit
(Yes)		 4.0 (2.0)-moz
16.0 (16.0)[1]		 10 11.6-o
12.10 #		 (Yes)-webkit
frames() No support[2] ? No support[2] No support No support[2] ?
Feature Android Chrome for Android Edge Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes)-webkit (Yes)-webkit (Yes)-webkit
(Yes)		 4.0 (2.0)-moz
16.0 (16.0)[1]		 ? ? (Yes)-webkit
frames() ? No support[2] ? No support[2] No support (Yes) ?

[1] In addition to the unprefixed support, Gecko 44.0 (Firefox 44.0 / Thunderbird 44.0 / SeaMonkey 2.41) added support for a -webkit prefixed version of the property for web compatibility reasons behind the preference layout.css.prefixes.webkit, defaulting to false. Since Gecko 49.0 (Firefox 49.0 / Thunderbird 49.0 / SeaMonkey 2.46) the preference defaults to true.

[2] The name of the frames() timing function is currently under discussion, so it is currently disabled in browser release versions until a final decision is reached. It is currently turned on in Nightly/Canary only.

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

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 Contributors to this page: chrisdavidmills, wbamberg, erikadoyle, franciscop, Sebastianz, mrstork, fscholz, teoli, tregagnon, kscarfone, Sheppy, ethertank, CutenessOverload, yyss
 Last updated by: chrisdavidmills,