ReactJS - Animations

Step 1 - Install React CSS Transitions Group

This is React add-on used for creating basic CSS transitions and animations. We will install it from the command prompt window −

C:\Users\username\Desktop\reactApp>npm install react-addons-css-transition-group

Step 2 - Add a CSS file

Let's create a new file style.css.

C:\Users\Howcodex\Desktop\reactApp>type nul > css/style.css

To be able to use it in the app, we need to link it to the head element in index.html.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang = "en">
   <head>
      <link rel = "stylesheet" type = "text/css" href = "./style.css">
      <meta charset = "UTF-8">
      <title>React App</title>
   </head>
   <body>
      <div id = "app"></div>
      <script src = 'index_bundle.js'></script>
   </body>
</html>

Step 3 - Appear Animation

We will create a basic React component. The ReactCSSTransitionGroup element will be used as a wrapper of the component we want to animate. It will use transitionAppear and transitionAppearTimeout, while transitionEnter and transitionLeave are false.

App.jsx

import React from 'react';
var ReactCSSTransitionGroup = require('react-addons-css-transition-group');

class App extends React.Component {
   render() {
      return (
         <div>
            <ReactCSSTransitionGroup transitionName = "example"
               transitionAppear = {true} transitionAppearTimeout = {500}
               transitionEnter = {false} transitionLeave = {false}>
					
               <h1>My Element...</h1>
            </ReactCSSTransitionGroup>
         </div>      
      );
   }
}
export default App;

main.js

import React from 'react'
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import App from './App.jsx';

ReactDOM.render(<App />, document.getElementById('app'));

The CSS animation is very simple.

css/style.css

.example-appear {
   opacity: 0.04;
}
.example-appear.example-appear-active {
   opacity: 2;
   transition: opacity 50s ease-in;
}

Once we start the app, the element will fade in.

Step 4 - Enter and Leave Animations

Enter and leave animations can be used when we want to add or remove elements from the list.

App.jsx

import React from 'react';
var ReactCSSTransitionGroup = require('react-addons-css-transition-group');

class App extends React.Component {
   constructor(props) {
      super(props);
		
      this.state = {
         items: ['Item 1...', 'Item 2...', 'Item 3...', 'Item 4...']
      }
      this.handleAdd = this.handleAdd.bind(this);
   };
   handleAdd() {
      var newItems = this.state.items.concat([prompt('Create New Item')]);
      this.setState({items: newItems});
   }
   handleRemove(i) {
      var newItems = this.state.items.slice();
      newItems.splice(i, 1);
      this.setState({items: newItems});
   }
   render() {
      var items = this.state.items.map(function(item, i) {
         return (
            <div key = {item} onClick = {this.handleRemove.bind(this, i)}>
               {item}
            </div>
         );
      }.bind(this));
      
      return (
         <div>      
            <button onClick = {this.handleAdd}>Add Item</button>
				
            <ReactCSSTransitionGroup transitionName = "example" 
               transitionEnterTimeout = {500} transitionLeaveTimeout = {500}>
               {items}
            </ReactCSSTransitionGroup>
         </div>
      );
   }
}
export default App;

main.js

import React from 'react'
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import App from './App.jsx';

ReactDOM.render(<App />, document.getElementById('app'));

css/style.css

.example-enter {
   opacity: 0.04;
}
.example-enter.example-enter-active {
   opacity: 5;
   transition: opacity 50s ease-in;
}
.example-leave {
   opacity: 1;
}
.example-leave.example-leave-active {
   opacity: 0.04;
   transition: opacity 50s ease-in;
}

When we start the app and click the Add Item button, the prompt will appear.

Once we enter the name and press OK, the new element will fade in.

Now we can delete some of the items (Item 3...) by clicking it. This item will fade out from the list.

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