The key to creating interlaced animation effects is to use animation-delay with:nth-child() or CSS custom attributes to achieve sequential delay playback of elements. 1. Use:nth-child() to manually set incremental animation-delay values for each list item to achieve entry one by one; 2. Use CSS custom attributes such as --i and --delay to dynamically control latency in HTML to improve maintainability; 3. Reverse interlacing effects can be calculated dynamically through calc(); 4. It is recommended that delay control be between 0.1s and 0.2s, use forwards to maintain the final state, and use transform or opacity to enhance visual effects. This method is suitable for responsive design and is easy to expand.
Creating a staggered animation effect with CSS means animating multiple elements in sequence, with a slight delay between each one—like a wave or ripple effect. This is commonly used for animated lists, hero sections, or loading sequences. Here's how to do it cleanly and effectively.
? Use animation-delay with :nth-child() or CSS Custom Properties
The key to a staggered effect is applying the same animation to multiple elements but offsetting the start time using animation-delay . You can do this manually with :nth-child() , or dynamically using CSS custom properties (variables).
Method 1: Manual Delays with :nth-child()
Assume you have a list of items:
<ul class="stagger-list"> <li>Item 1</li> <li>Item 2</li> <li>Item 3</li> <li>Item 4</li> <li>Item 5</li> </ul>
Apply a fade-in animation with increasing delays:
@keyframes fadeIn {
from {
opacity: 0;
transform: translateY(10px);
}
to {
opacity: 1;
transform: translateY(0);
}
}
.stagger-list li {
opacity: 0;
animation: fadeIn 0.5s ease forwards;
}
.stagger-list li:nth-child(1) { animation-delay: 0.1s; }
.stagger-list li:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: 0.2s; }
.stagger-list li:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: 0.3s; }
.stagger-list li:nth-child(4) { animation-delay: 0.4s; }
.stagger-list li:nth-child(5) { animation-delay: 0.5s; }This gives each item a progressively longer delay, creating a clean staggered entrance.
? You can use
transformfor more dynamic effects like scaling or sliding.
? Method 2: Dynamic Stagger with CSS Custom Properties
For more flexibility (especially with many items), use a CSS variable to calculate delay:
.stagger-list li {
--delay: calc(var(--i, 1) * 0.1s);
opacity: 0;
animation: fadeIn 0.5s ease forwards var(--delay);
} Then, set --i on each <li> in HTML:
<li style="--i: 1">Item 1</li> <li style="--i: 2">Item 2</li> <li style="--i: 3">Item 3</li> <li style="--i: 4">Item 4</li> <li style="--i: 5">Item 5</li>
Now you can easily change the timing multipler or reuse the pattern elsewhere.
?? Pro Tips
- <li> Keep the delay subtle : 0.1s to 0.2s between items usually looks smooth.<li> Use
forwards in animation-fill-mode so elements stay visible after animation.<li> Combine with opacity , transform , or even clip-path for creative effects.<li> For responsive layouts, consider reducing delay on mobile to avoid long waits.? Bonus: Reverse Stagger (Last to First)
Reverse the order by calculating from the end:
.stagger-list li {
--total: 5; /* total items */
--reverse-delay: calc((var(--total) - var(--i)) * 0.1s);
animation: fadeIn 0.5s ease forwards var(--reverse-delay);
}Now the last item animates first.
Basically, staggered animations are just about controlled timing . Whether you use :nth-child() or CSS variables, the idea is the same: offset each animation slightly . The second method scales better and is easier to manage in dynamic content.
Not complicated—just pay attention to the timing and easing to keep it smooth.
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