How to use React Spring to animate components

react spring
(Image credit: Matt Crouch)

React Spring can help you with animations, which are notoriously tricky to implement on the web. CSS animations are the best choice, but creating a smooth result, requires careful juggling of classes, durations and events. Throwing a JavaScript framework like React into the mix only complicates things further. 

For animations that rely on user interaction, values can be computed through JavaScript and applied to an element directly. By taking this manual approach, we would need to calculate and apply our own easing to make the animation look more natural. 

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Matt Crouch

Matt Crouch is a front end developer who uses his knowledge of React, GraphQL and Styled Components to build online platforms for award-winning startups across the UK. He has written a range of articles and tutorials for net and Web Designer magazines covering the latest and greatest web development tools and technologies. 

Latest in 2D Animation
Character design
How to simplify figures for animation
art tutorial
How to create dynamic action scenes in Clip Studio Paint
iOS 17
Apple's joyful iOS 17 animations mesmerise iPhone fans
Studio ghibli food
The tantalising secret behind Studio Ghibli's iconic food animation
Reallusion
How to make broadcast-quality children's animations with Cartoon Animator
Reallusion
Hi From the Future - remotely making an animated music video
Latest in How to
Gesture drawing: all you need to know plus ways to practise in 2 and 5 minutes
How to draw a male figure
drawing of a naked woman with someone drawing it
How to draw a female figure
GIMP in pro work
Making GIMP 3.0 work for pro results: is it possible?
Pejman Rajabi 3D tutorial of Super Mario fan art
“One of the best creative experiences of my life, working with such an amazing artistic crew” – how VFX artist Pejman Rajabi and friends created a heartfelt tribute to Super Mario
Marco Teixeira 3D tutorial
“The challenge was to create a cool character design”: concept artist Marco Teixeira reveals the techniques and inspiration behind his superb 3D character render