Create a seamless transition between point X,Y and point X1,Y1 through animated movements

Is there a way to smoothly move an image (or element) from its current X, Y position to X1, Y1?

If the difference between X and X1 is equal to the difference between Y and Y1, it's straightforward. But what if the X difference is 100px and the Y difference is 273px?

As a beginner in Javascript, I prefer not to reinvent the wheel! Also, I'd like to stick to pure javascript without using jQuery or similar libraries.

Can anyone provide a simple script for this? :-)

Answer №1

Here is a possible solution:

function moveElement( element, newX, newY ) {
    var currentLeft = parseInt( getStyle( element, 'left' ), 10 ),
        currentTop = parseInt( getStyle( element, 'top' ), 10 ),
        distanceX = currentLeft - newX,
        distanceY = currentTop - newY,
        increment = 1,
        steps = 20,
        interval = 20;

    function animate() {
        if ( increment >= steps ) { return; }
        increment += 1;
        element.style.left = ( currentLeft - ( distanceX * increment / steps ) ).toFixed( 0 ) + 'px';
        element.style.top = ( currentTop - ( distanceY * increment / steps ) ).toFixed( 0 ) + 'px';
        setTimeout( animate, interval );
    }

    animate();
}

function getStyle( element, property ) {
    return window.getComputedStyle( element, null ).getPropertyValue( property );
}

Check out the live demonstration here: http://jsfiddle.net/qEVVT/1/

Answer №2

Creating smooth animations on devices with varying capabilities such as CPU power and graphics ability is a complex task. A successful implementation requires the development of a sophisticated "tweening" algorithm that can dynamically adjust the animation increments to ensure smoothness and timeliness.

The most efficient approach is to leverage existing resources rather than starting from scratch. Utilizing frameworks like CSS3 transitions/animations, jQuery, and YUI3 can simplify the process significantly. By incorporating these frameworks, developers can access a wide range of capabilities without using the entire framework for other purposes.

For those hesitant to use frameworks, studying the source code of relevant modules can provide valuable insights. Building sample applications and analyzing their functionality can help in understanding how to create an adaptable tweening algorithm based on the host device's speed capabilities.

In a linear easing animation scenario, an initial calculation is made to determine the appropriate step value for the desired animation duration. By dividing this value into the total number of steps and setting a timer accordingly, developers can monitor progress and adjust increments if needed.

Implementing non-linear easing adds another layer of complexity to the process. Additionally, experimental APIs introduced by Firefox and Chrome, such as webkitRequestAnimationFrame, offer new possibilities for enhancing animation smoothness.

Answer №3

Utilizing CSS transitions can streamline development when focusing on modern browsers (For example, utilize the -moz prefix for Firefox):

<body>
    <input type="button" onclick="move()" value="click me" />
    <div id="sq" style="position:absolute; top:50px; left:50px; height:50px; width:50px; background-color:black; -moz-transition : all 0.8s ease 0s;" />
</body>

Below is the accompanying script:

 function move() {
            var sq = document.getElementById("sq");
            sq.style.left = "300px";
            sq.style.top = "150px";
        }

Answer №4

If I were to create this code from scratch, my approach would be something along these lines:

function linearEase(start, end, percent) {
    return start + ((end - start) * percent);
}

function animateTo(settings) {
    var elem = settings.element;
    var ease = settings.ease;

    var start = { left: elem.offsetLeft, top: elem.offsetTop };

    var lastTime = new Date().getTime();
    var timeLeft = settings.totalTime;

    function update() {
        var currentTime = new Date().getTime();
        var elapsed = currentTime - lastTime;
        timeLeft -= elapsed;
        lastTime = currentTime;

        var percentDone = 1 - timeLeft/settings.totalTime;

        elem.style.top = ease(start.top, settings.top, percentDone) + "px" ;
        elem.style.left = ease(start.left, settings.left, percentDone) + "px" ;

        if(timeLeft > 0) {
            setTimeout(update, 33);
        }   
    }

    update();
}

For instance, you can use this code snippet to move a div to coordinates (50,50) in the span of two seconds.

var elem = document.getElementById("animatable");

setTimeout(function() {
    animateTo({
        element: elem, 
        left: 50, 
        top: 50, 
        totalTime: 2000,
        ease: linearEase
    })
}, 10);

This is a commonly used pattern for handling animations like these. While there may be room for improvement in how element positions are obtained and style properties are applied, creating an ease function can significantly simplify your workflow in the long term. I've included a basic linear easing function here, but more complex easing algorithms can adhere to the same structure.

It's important to note that timeouts and intervals may not always execute at precise times, so it's recommended to define the total transition duration and calculate the elapsed time between renders. This ensures smoother animation timing.

In cases where multiple elements require animation simultaneously, consider consolidating them into a single "render loop". Calls to animateTo could add tasks to a worker queue, with only one main setTimeout loop responsible for calculating elapsed time and triggering each worker. This helps prevent numerous unnecessary timeout closures from cluttering your code.

For further exploration, check out this fiddle here

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