What View transitions means
The View Transition API lets elements morph or fade as content changes, effects that once needed heavy JavaScript. Use them subtly and respect reduced motion settings.
Why it matters for your website
Smooth transitions help visitors keep their place as content changes, which makes a site feel polished and easier to follow. Used well, they add a premium feel without heavy animation libraries, but overdone motion can distract or bother some people.
Example
On a hypothetical furniture store, a product photo smoothly grows from the grid into the product page instead of the screen suddenly jumping.
Tips
- Keep transitions short and use them to show where content went.
- Respect the reduced motion setting for visitors who prefer less animation.
- Treat transitions as an extra, so the site still works without them.
Common mistakes
- Adding slow, flashy transitions to every click.
- Assuming every browser supports the same transition features.
Questions about View transitions
What is View transitions?
A browser feature that animates smoothly between page states or between pages.
Do view transitions work in all browsers?
Support has grown in modern browsers, but it is not identical everywhere. Browsers without support simply show the change without animation.
Do view transitions affect page speed?
They are built into the browser, so they are usually lighter than many animation libraries. Keep them short so they do not make navigation feel slower.
