withTiming

The withTiming modifier creates precise, time-based animations with exact durations. Unlike withSpring which uses physics, withTiming gives you complete control over how long an animation takes and how it accelerates/decelerates.

Why Use withTiming?

Timing animations are perfect when you need:

• Exact duration - Know exactly how long an animation takes
• Predictable timing - Coordinate multiple animations
• Smooth easing - Control acceleration and deceleration
• Precise control - Perfect for UI transitions, tooltips, dropdowns

Basic Syntax

withTiming(toValue, options?)

Parameters

• toValue (required): The target value. Can be a number, string, object, or array.
• options (optional): Configuration object for timing control.

Simple Example

The simplest timing animation:

import { useValue, withTiming, animate } from 'react-ui-animate';

function MyComponent() {
  const [opacity, setOpacity] = useValue(0);

  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={() => setOpacity(withTiming(1, { duration: 300 }))}>
        Fade In
      </button>
      <animate.div
        style={{
          opacity,
          width: 100,
          height: 100,
          background: '#60a5fa',
        }}
      />
    </>
  );
}

Configuration Options

Option	Type	Default	Description
duration	number	300	Animation duration in milliseconds
easing	function	Linear	Easing function for acceleration/deceleration
onStart	() => void	-	Called when animation starts
onChange	(value) => void	-	Called on every frame with current value
onComplete	() => void	-	Called when animation finishes

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Fade In/Out

Perfect for tooltips, dropdowns, and modals:

function FadeComponent() {
  const [opacity, setOpacity] = useValue(0);

  const show = () => {
    setOpacity(withTiming(1, { duration: 300 }));
  };

  const hide = () => {
    setOpacity(withTiming(0, { duration: 200 }));
  };

  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={show}>Show</button>
      <button onClick={hide}>Hide</button>
      <animate.div
        style={{
          opacity,
          width: 100,
          height: 100,
          background: '#60a5fa',
        }}
      />
    </>
  );
}

Example 2: Slide Animation

Smooth slide transitions:

function SlidePanel() {
  const [translateX, setTranslateX] = useValue(-200);

  const open = () => {
    setTranslateX(withTiming(0, { duration: 400 }));
  };

  const close = () => {
    setTranslateX(withTiming(-200, { duration: 300 }));
  };

  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={open}>Open</button>
      <button onClick={close}>Close</button>
      <animate.div
        style={{
          translateX,
          width: 200,
          height: '100vh',
          background: 'white',
          boxShadow: '2px 0 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)',
        }}
      >
        Panel Content
      </animate.div>
    </>
  );
}

Example 3: Progress Bar

Animate progress with exact timing:

function ProgressBar() {
  const [width, setWidth] = useValue(0);

  const start = () => {
    setWidth(withTiming(100, { duration: 2000 }));
  };

  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={start}>Start Progress</button>
      <div style={{ width: 300, height: 8, background: '#e1e1e1', borderRadius: 4 }}>
        <animate.div
          style={{
            width: `${width}%`,
            height: '100%',
            background: '#60a5fa',
            borderRadius: 4,
          }}
        />
      </div>
    </>
  );
}

Preview

Easing Functions

Control how the animation accelerates and decelerates:

// Linear - constant speed
setX(withTiming(100, { duration: 300 }));

// Ease in - slow start, fast end
setX(withTiming(100, { 
  duration: 300,
  easing: (t) => t * t 
}));

// Ease out - fast start, slow end
setX(withTiming(100, { 
  duration: 300,
  easing: (t) => t * (2 - t)
}));

// Ease in-out - slow start and end
setX(withTiming(100, { 
  duration: 300,
  easing: (t) => t < 0.5 ? 2 * t * t : -1 + (4 - 2 * t) * t
}));

Animating Multiple Values

Timing works great with objects and arrays:

const [style, setStyle] = useValue({ 
  opacity: 0, 
  translateY: 50,
  scale: 0.9 
});

// Animate all properties together
setStyle(withTiming({
  opacity: 1,
  translateY: 0,
  scale: 1
}, { duration: 400 }));

Using Callbacks

Track animation progress and trigger side effects:

function AnimatedCard() {
  const [opacity, setOpacity] = useValue(0);

  const fadeIn = () => {
    setOpacity(withTiming(1, {
      duration: 500,
      onStart: () => {
        console.log('Fade in started');
        // Show loading indicator, disable buttons, etc.
      },
      onChange: (value) => {
        // Track progress
        console.log(`Opacity: ${(value * 100).toFixed(0)}%`);
      },
      onComplete: () => {
        console.log('Fade in complete');
        // Hide loading indicator, enable buttons, etc.
      },
    }));
  };

  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={fadeIn}>Fade In</button>
      <animate.div
        style={{
          opacity,
          width: 100,
          height: 100,
          background: '#60a5fa',
        }}
      />
    </>
  );
}

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Quick Fade

const [opacity, setOpacity] = useValue(0);

const show = () => {
  setOpacity(withTiming(1, { duration: 200 }));
};

const hide = () => {
  setOpacity(withTiming(0, { duration: 150 }));
};

Pattern 2: Coordinated Animations

const [opacity, setOpacity] = useValue(0);
const [translateY, setTranslateY] = useValue(50);

// Animate both with same duration for coordination
const reveal = () => {
  setOpacity(withTiming(1, { duration: 400 }));
  setTranslateY(withTiming(0, { duration: 400 }));
};

Pattern 3: Staggered Timing

const [items, setItems] = useValue([0, 0, 0, 0]);

const reveal = () => {
  // Each item fades in 100ms after the previous
  items.forEach((_, i) => {
    setTimeout(() => {
      const newItems = [...items];
      newItems[i] = 1;
      setItems(newItems);
    }, i * 100);
  });
};

When to Use withTiming vs withSpring

Use Case	Recommended Modifier	Why
Tooltips	withTiming	Quick, predictable timing
Dropdowns	withTiming	Snappy, controlled
Progress bars	withTiming	Exact duration needed
Modals	withSpring	Natural, bouncy feel
Buttons	withSpring	Responsive, alive
Cards	withSpring	Organic motion

Best Practices

✅ Do

• Use withTiming when you need exact duration
• Use consistent durations across related animations
• Use easing functions for natural acceleration/deceleration
• Leverage callbacks for coordination and side effects

❌ Don't

• Don't use withTiming when you want natural, bouncy motion (use withSpring)
• Don't make animations too slow (>1000ms) - users expect quick feedback
• Don't forget to handle the animation lifecycle with callbacks
• Don't animate layout properties - use transforms instead

Performance Tips

1. Timing is optimized - Very performant for simple animations
2. Use transforms - translateX, translateY, scale are GPU-accelerated
3. Batch updates - Animate multiple properties in one object
4. Keep durations reasonable - 200-500ms is usually ideal

Troubleshooting

Animation feels too fast:

• Increase duration (try 400-600ms)

Animation feels too slow:

• Decrease duration (try 150-250ms)

Animation feels mechanical:

• Add easing function for natural acceleration/deceleration
• Or consider using withSpring for more natural motion

Next Steps

• Learn about withSpring for natural physics-based motion
• Explore withSequence to chain timing animations
• Check out Presence & Exit for exit animations