Web Animations API
The Web Animations API is a JavaScript interface for creating and controlling animations on web pages, providing a unified way to animate CSS properties and DOM elements. It allows developers to define complex animations with precise timing, playback control, and performance optimizations directly in JavaScript, bridging the gap between CSS animations and JavaScript-driven effects. This API enables smoother, more interactive animations that can be dynamically manipulated at runtime.
Developers should learn the Web Animations API when building modern web applications that require complex, interactive animations beyond what CSS alone can offer, such as games, data visualizations, or rich UI components. It is particularly useful for scenarios needing programmatic control over animations, like synchronizing multiple animations, responding to user input, or integrating with JavaScript frameworks, as it provides better performance and flexibility compared to traditional CSS or jQuery animations.