Behavior comparison
Easing vs Spring animation
Decisive difference
Easing addresses a fixed-duration pace; Spring animation addresses a damped physical response. They can be combined when both needs apply.
Choice criteria, links and sources
- EasingChoose Easing if you need a fixed-duration pace.Open entry Easing
- Spring animationChoose Spring animation if you need a damped physical response.Open entry Spring animation
See the nine dimensionsSee the sources
Motion & Effects
Try it
Does motion explain a change, report state, or only decorate?
Easing
Shared trial context
An item moves, changes state or waits for content. Which information must survive without motion?
Easing
Static preview: state and result remain readable without motion. Activate the demo to compare the parameter, pause and try the fallback.
Compare linear with ease-out at the same distance and 800 ms teaching duration. Ease-out advances faster at the start and slows near the target.
Spring animation
Static preview: state and result remain readable without motion. Activate the demo to compare the parameter, pause and try the fallback.
Change damping from 10 to 20 with mass 1 and stiffness 100. Less damping overshoots; critical damping settles without oscillation. The demo samples two seconds then snaps to the exact target.
What this example shows
Easing defines a timing curve; a spring evolves from physical parameters. Neither defines the meaning of a state change.
Which fits your need?
Easing
Make a short positional change easier to follow with a predictable duration.
Spring animation
Explain settling after a drag or a spatial change when a physical response helps orientation.
Difference and sources
Easing defines a timing curve; a spring evolves from physical parameters. Neither defines the meaning of a state change.
Read the sourcesParts of the specimen
Select a numbered marker on the schematic, or use the list below, to see its role. The schematic shows the concept's representative state.
Trigger
The control that opens or reveals the surface.
Decision
Family question
Does motion explain a change, report state, or only decorate?
Three criteria to choose
- Use case
Easing
Make a short positional change easier to follow with a predictable duration.
Spring animation
Explain settling after a drag or a spatial change when a physical response helps orientation.
- Interactivity
Easing
Adjust one parameter for a fixed-duration pace; pause or use a static result.
Spring animation
Adjust one parameter for a damped physical response; pause or use a static result.
- Mobile behavior
Easing
Native touch controls; system motion reduction always wins.
Spring animation
Native touch controls; system motion reduction always wins.
Nine dimensions
- Trigger
Easing
Explicit activation to demonstrate a fixed-duration pace.
Spring animation
Explicit activation to demonstrate a damped physical response.
- Modality
Easing
Non-modal; surrounding content stays usable.
Spring animation
Non-modal; surrounding content stays usable.
- Placement
Easing
Inside a bounded specimen; no page-level decoration.
Spring animation
Inside a bounded specimen; no page-level decoration.
- Interactivity
Easing
Adjust one parameter for a fixed-duration pace; pause or use a static result.
Spring animation
Adjust one parameter for a damped physical response; pause or use a static result.
- Focus
Easing
Focus stays on the activated control. Reset restores focus to its button.
Spring animation
Focus stays on the activated control. Reset restores focus to its button.
- Dismissal
Easing
Pause freezes playback; static fallback cancels it. Leaving the specimen cancels its animation and removes listeners.
Spring animation
Pause freezes playback; static fallback cancels it. Leaving the specimen cancels its animation and removes listeners.
- Accessible role
Easing
button + select + checkbox + status
Spring animation
button + select + checkbox + status
- Use case
Easing
Make a short positional change easier to follow with a predictable duration.
Spring animation
Explain settling after a drag or a spatial change when a physical response helps orientation.
- Mobile behavior
Easing
Native touch controls; system motion reduction always wins.
Spring animation
Native touch controls; system motion reduction always wins.
| Dimension | EasingEasing | Spring animationSpring animation |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Explicit activation to demonstrate a fixed-duration pace. | Explicit activation to demonstrate a damped physical response. |
| Modality | Non-modal; surrounding content stays usable. | Non-modal; surrounding content stays usable. |
| Placement | Inside a bounded specimen; no page-level decoration. | Inside a bounded specimen; no page-level decoration. |
| Interactivity | Adjust one parameter for a fixed-duration pace; pause or use a static result. | Adjust one parameter for a damped physical response; pause or use a static result. |
| Focus | Focus stays on the activated control. Reset restores focus to its button. | Focus stays on the activated control. Reset restores focus to its button. |
| Dismissal | Pause freezes playback; static fallback cancels it. Leaving the specimen cancels its animation and removes listeners. | Pause freezes playback; static fallback cancels it. Leaving the specimen cancels its animation and removes listeners. |
| Accessible role | button + select + checkbox + status | button + select + checkbox + status |
| Use case | Make a short positional change easier to follow with a predictable duration. | Explain settling after a drag or a spatial change when a physical response helps orientation. |
| Mobile behavior | Native touch controls; system motion reduction always wins. | Native touch controls; system motion reduction always wins. |