Latest ScrollReveal Solutions in Pure CSS (2024-2025)

23. May 2025

Development / CSS

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1. CSS Scroll-Driven Animations (The Game Changer)

As of December 2024, scroll-driven animations are finally here — no JavaScript, no dependencies, no libraries, just pure CSS. These animations run off the main thread, delivering smooth, GPU-accelerated experiences.

Key Features:

Browser Support: Chrome as of December 2024. Firefox supports them, too, though you’ll need to enable a flag
Performance: Runs on GPU, off the main thread
Two Types: Scroll Progress Timeline and View Progress Timeline

2. View Progress Timeline (Perfect for Reveal Effects)

The view() function is ideal for creating reveal animations:


.reveal-element {
  animation: fadeIn linear both;
  animation-timeline: view();
  animation-range: entry 25% cover 75%;
}

@keyframes fadeIn {
  from { 
    opacity: 0;
    transform: translateY(100px);
  }
  to { 
    opacity: 1;
    transform: translateY(0);
  }
}

.reveal-element {

animation: fadeIn linear both;

animation-timeline: view();

animation-range: entry 25% cover 75%;

}

@keyframes fadeIn {

from {

opacity: 0;

transform: translateY(100px);

}

to {

opacity: 1;

transform: translateY(0);

}

Animation Range Options:

cover: Full visibility tracking
contain: When fully visible
entry: Entering the viewport
exit: Leaving the viewport
entry-crossing: Crossing starting edge
exit-crossing: Crossing ending edge

3. Scroll Progress Timeline

For progress indicators and scroll-linked effects:


.progress-bar {
  animation: grow linear;
  animation-timeline: scroll();
  transform-origin: left;
}

@keyframes grow {
  from { transform: scaleX(0); }
  to { transform: scaleX(1); }
}

.progress-bar {

animation: grow linear;

animation-timeline: scroll();

transform-origin: left;

}

@keyframes grow {

from { transform: scaleX(0); }

to { transform: scaleX(1); }

}

4. Modern Reveal Patterns

Fade and Slide


.reveal-slide {
  animation: slideUp linear both;
  animation-timeline: view();
  animation-range: entry 0% cover 40%;
}

@keyframes slideUp {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: translateY(100px);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: translateY(0);
  }
}

.reveal-slide {

animation: slideUp linear both;

animation-timeline: view();

animation-range: entry 0% cover 40%;

}

@keyframes slideUp {

from {

opacity: 0;

transform: translateY(100px);

}

to {

opacity: 1;

transform: translateY(0);

}

Scale Reveal


.reveal-scale {
  animation: scaleIn linear both;
  animation-timeline: view();
  animation-range: entry 15% cover 50%;
}

@keyframes scaleIn {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: scale(0.8);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: scale(1);
  }
}

.reveal-scale {

animation: scaleIn linear both;

animation-timeline: view();

animation-range: entry 15% cover 50%;

}

@keyframes scaleIn {

from {

opacity: 0;

transform: scale(0.8);

}

to {

opacity: 1;

transform: scale(1);

}

Staggered Reveals


.reveal-item {
  animation: fadeInUp linear both;
  animation-timeline: view();
}

.reveal-item:nth-child(1) { animation-range: entry 10% cover 50%; }
.reveal-item:nth-child(2) { animation-range: entry 20% cover 60%; }
.reveal-item:nth-child(3) { animation-range: entry 30% cover 70%; }

.reveal-item {

animation: fadeInUp linear both;

animation-timeline: view();

}

.reveal-item:nth-child(1) { animation-range: entry 10% cover 50%; }

.reveal-item:nth-child(2) { animation-range: entry 20% cover 60%; }

.reveal-item:nth-child(3) { animation-range: entry 30% cover 70%; }

5. Advanced Techniques

Parallax Effects


.parallax-element {
  animation: parallaxMove linear;
  animation-timeline: view();
  animation-range: cover;
}

@keyframes parallaxMove {
  from { transform: translateY(0); }
  to { transform: translateY(-50px); }
}

.parallax-element {

animation: parallaxMove linear;

animation-timeline: view();

animation-range: cover;

}

@keyframes parallaxMove {

from { transform: translateY(0); }

to { transform: translateY(-50px); }

}

Direction-Based Reveals


@keyframes slideInOut {
  entry 0% {
    transform: translateX(-100px);
    opacity: 0;
  }
  entry 100% {
    transform: translateX(0);
    opacity: 1;
  }
  exit 0% {
    transform: translateX(0);
    opacity: 1;
  }
  exit 100% {
    transform: translateX(100px);
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

@keyframes slideInOut {

entry 0% {

transform: translateX(-100px);

opacity: 0;

}

entry 100% {

transform: translateX(0);

opacity: 1;

}

exit 0% {

transform: translateX(0);

opacity: 1;

}

exit 100% {

transform: translateX(100px);

opacity: 0;

}

6. Named Timelines for Complex Animations


.scroll-container {
  scroll-timeline: --myScroller block;
}

.animated-element {
  animation: reveal linear;
  animation-timeline: --myScroller;
}

.scroll-container {

scroll-timeline: --myScroller block;

}

.animated-element {

animation: reveal linear;

animation-timeline: --myScroller;

}

7. Best Practices

Progressive Enhancement


@supports (animation-timeline: view()) {
  .reveal {
    animation: fadeIn linear both;
    animation-timeline: view();
  }
}

@supports (animation-timeline: view()) {

.reveal {

animation: fadeIn linear both;

animation-timeline: view();

}

Accessibility


@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
  @supports (animation-timeline: view()) {
    .reveal {
      animation: slideIn linear both;
      animation-timeline: view();
    }
  }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {

@supports (animation-timeline: view()) {

.reveal {

animation: slideIn linear both;

animation-timeline: view();

}

8. Performance Tips

For the best results, stick to animating GPU-friendly properties like transforms, opacity, and some filters:


/* Good - GPU accelerated */
.optimized-reveal {
  animation: optimizedFade linear both;
  animation-timeline: view();
  will-change: transform, opacity;
}

@keyframes optimizedFade {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: translate3d(0, 50px, 0);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
  }
}

/* Good - GPU accelerated */

.optimized-reveal {

animation: optimizedFade linear both;

animation-timeline: view();

will-change: transform, opacity;

}

@keyframes optimizedFade {

from {

opacity: 0;

transform: translate3d(0, 50px, 0);

}

to {

opacity: 1;

transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);

}

9. Polyfill for Broader Support

For browsers that don’t support scroll-driven animations yet, you can use the polyfill:


<script src="https://flackr.github.io/scroll-timeline/dist/scroll-timeline.js"></script>

10. Common Gotchas

A scroll container is necessary for scroll-driven animations to work
Using overflow: hidden can disrupt the scroll-seeking mechanism in scroll-driven animations. The recommended solution is to switch to overflow: clip
Always place animation-timeline after the animation shorthand property

Resources and Further Reading

These pure CSS scroll-driven animations represent a significant advancement in web animation capabilities, offering performance benefits and cleaner code compared to JavaScript-based solutions. While browser support is still evolving, they’re ready for progressive enhancement in production environments.

FAQ

What are CSS scroll-driven animations?

CSS scroll-driven animations allow you to animate property values based on a progression along a scroll-based timeline instead of the default time-based document timeline. They enable smooth, performant animations that respond to user scrolling without JavaScript.

How do I create a basic scroll-driven animation?

To create a scroll-driven animation, use the animation-timeline property with the scroll() function:

What browsers support scroll-driven animations?

You can safely use scroll-driven animations in Chrome as of December 2024. Firefox supports them with a flag enabled, while Safari doesn’t support them yet. Use feature detection with:

What’s the difference between scroll() and view() timelines?

A scroll progress timeline tracks scrolling from top to bottom (0% to 100%), while a view progress timeline tracks an element’s visibility inside a scroller. Use scroll() for scroll-based progress bars and view() for animating elements as they enter/exit the viewport.

How do I use animation-range to control when animations start and end?

The animation-range property controls where animations start and end. For scroll timelines, use length values: For view timelines, use keywords like entry, exit, cover, or contain.

Why do scroll-driven animations perform better than JavaScript alternatives?

Scroll-driven animations run off the main thread, delivering smooth, high-performance, GPU-accelerated experiences. Unlike JavaScript scroll event listeners, they don’t block the main thread and avoid jank.

How do I create a reading progress bar with CSS?

Create a progress bar that fills as you scroll:

Can I animate elements as they enter the viewport?

Yes, use view() timeline to animate elements based on their visibility:

What CSS properties should I animate for best performance?

For the best results, stick to animating GPU-friendly properties like transforms, opacity, and some filters. Avoid animating layout properties like width, height, or margin as they trigger reflows and hurt performance.

How do I handle accessibility with scroll animations?

Always respect user preferences for reduced motion:

Can I use named timelines for multiple elements?

Yes, create named scroll timelines to share between elements:

What’s the view-timeline-inset property for?

view-timeline-inset adjusts when animations start/end relative to viewport edges. It creates a margin that changes the animation trigger points, useful for starting animations before elements fully enter the viewport.

Do I need to set animation-duration for scroll animations?

Firefox needs the property for the animation to work, so add animation-duration: 1ms. The actual duration doesn’t matter since the animation is driven by scroll, not time.

How do I debug scroll-driven animations?

Use the Chrome DevTools with the scroll-driven animations extension, or add visual debugging aids:

Can I combine multiple animations with different ranges?

Yes, apply multiple animations with different timeline ranges:

What common mistakes should I avoid?

Common issues include using position: absolute which can interfere with animations, and using overflow: hidden which disrupts the scroll-seeking mechanism. Use overflow: clip instead of hidden when needed.

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Latest ScrollReveal Solutions in Pure CSS (2024-2025)

Table of Contents

1. CSS Scroll-Driven Animations (The Game Changer)

Key Features:

2. View Progress Timeline (Perfect for Reveal Effects)

Animation Range Options:

3. Scroll Progress Timeline

4. Modern Reveal Patterns

Fade and Slide

Scale Reveal

Staggered Reveals

5. Advanced Techniques

Parallax Effects

Direction-Based Reveals

6. Named Timelines for Complex Animations

7. Best Practices

Progressive Enhancement

Accessibility

8. Performance Tips

9. Polyfill for Broader Support

10. Common Gotchas

Resources and Further Reading

FAQ

What are CSS scroll-driven animations?

How do I create a basic scroll-driven animation?

What browsers support scroll-driven animations?

What’s the difference between scroll() and view() timelines?

How do I use animation-range to control when animations start and end?

Why do scroll-driven animations perform better than JavaScript alternatives?

How do I create a reading progress bar with CSS?

Can I animate elements as they enter the viewport?

What CSS properties should I animate for best performance?

How do I handle accessibility with scroll animations?

Can I use named timelines for multiple elements?

What’s the view-timeline-inset property for?

Do I need to set animation-duration for scroll animations?

How do I debug scroll-driven animations?

Can I combine multiple animations with different ranges?

What common mistakes should I avoid?

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