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React View Transitions

React's View Transition API lets you animate between UI states using the browser's native document.startViewTransition under the hood. Declare what to animate with <ViewTransition>, trigger when with startTransition / useDeferredValue / Suspense, and control how with CSS classes or the Web Animations API. Unsupported browsers skip the animation and apply the DOM change instantly.

When to Animate (and When Not To)

Every <ViewTransition> should answer: what spatial relationship or continuity does this animation communicate to the user? If you can't articulate it, don't add it.

Hierarchy of Animation Intent

From highest value to lowest — start from the top and only move down if your app doesn't already have animations at that level:

Route-level transitions (#5) are the lowest priority because the URL change already signals a context switch. A blanket cross-fade on every navigation says nothing — it's visual noise. Prefer specific, intentional animations (#1–#4) over ambient page transitions.

Rule of thumb: at any given moment, only one level of the tree should be visually transitioning. If your pages already manage their own Suspense reveals or shared element morphs, adding a layout-level route transition on top produces double-animation where both levels fight for attention.

Choosing the Right Animation Style

Not everything should slide. Match the animation to the spatial relationship:

When in doubt, use a bare <ViewTransition> (default cross-fade) or default="none". Only add directional motion (slide-up, slide-from-right) when it communicates spatial meaning.

Availability

• <ViewTransition> and addTransitionType require react@canary or react@experimental. They are not in stable React (including 19.x). Before implementing, verify the project uses canary — check package.json for "react": "canary" or run npm ls react. If on stable, install canary: npm install react@canary react-dom@canary.
• Browser support: Chromium 111+, with Firefox and Safari adding support. The API gracefully degrades — unsupported browsers skip the animation and apply the DOM change instantly.

Core Concepts

The <ViewTransition> Component

Wrap the elements you want to animate:

import { ViewTransition } from 'react';

<ViewTransition>
  <Component />
</ViewTransition>

React automatically assigns a unique view-transition-name to the nearest DOM node inside each <ViewTransition>, and calls document.startViewTransition behind the scenes. Never call startViewTransition yourself — React coordinates all view transitions and will interrupt external ones.

Animation Triggers

React decides which type of animation to run based on what changed:

Only updates wrapped in startTransition, useDeferredValue, or Suspense activate <ViewTransition>. Regular setState updates immediately and does not animate.

Critical Placement Rule

<ViewTransition> only activates enter/exit if it appears before any DOM nodes in the component tree:

// Works — ViewTransition is before the DOM node
function Item() {
  return (
    <ViewTransition enter="auto" exit="auto">
      <div>Content</div>
    </ViewTransition>
  );
}

// Broken — a <div> wraps the ViewTransition, preventing enter/exit
function Item() {
  return (
    <div>
      <ViewTransition enter="auto" exit="auto">
        <div>Content</div>
      </ViewTransition>
    </div>
  );
}

Styling Animations with View Transition Classes

Props

Each prop controls a different animation trigger. Values can be:

• "auto" — use the browser default cross-fade

• "none" — disable this animation type

• "my-class-name" — a custom CSS class

• An object { [transitionType]: value } for type-specific animations (see Transition Types below)

  <ViewTransition default="none" // disable everything not explicitly listed enter="slide-in" // CSS class for enter animations exit="slide-out" // CSS class for exit animations update="cross-fade" // CSS class for update animations share="morph" // CSS class for shared element animations />

If default is "none", all triggers are off unless explicitly listed.

Defining CSS Animations

Use the view transition pseudo-element selectors with the class name:

::view-transition-old(.slide-in) {
  animation: 300ms ease-out slide-out-to-left;
}
::view-transition-new(.slide-in) {
  animation: 300ms ease-out slide-in-from-right;
}

@keyframes slide-out-to-left {
  to { transform: translateX(-100%); opacity: 0; }
}
@keyframes slide-in-from-right {
  from { transform: translateX(100%); opacity: 0; }
}

The pseudo-elements available are:

• ::view-transition-group(.class) — the container for the transition
• ::view-transition-image-pair(.class) — contains old and new snapshots
• ::view-transition-old(.class) — the outgoing snapshot
• ::view-transition-new(.class) — the incoming snapshot

Transition Types with addTransitionType

addTransitionType lets you tag a transition with a string label so <ViewTransition> can pick different animations based on what caused the change. This is essential for directional navigation (forward vs. back) or distinguishing user actions (click vs. swipe vs. keyboard).

Basic Usage

import { startTransition, addTransitionType } from 'react';

function navigate(url, direction) {
  startTransition(() => {
    addTransitionType(`navigation-${direction}`); // "navigation-forward" or "navigation-back"
    setCurrentPage(url);
  });
}

You can add multiple types to a single transition, and if multiple transitions are batched, all types are collected.

Using Types with View Transition Classes

Pass an object instead of a string to any activation prop. Keys are transition type strings, values are CSS class names:

<ViewTransition
  enter={{
    'navigation-forward': 'slide-in-from-right',
    'navigation-back': 'slide-in-from-left',
    default: 'fade-in',
  }}
  exit={{
    'navigation-forward': 'slide-out-to-left',
    'navigation-back': 'slide-out-to-right',
    default: 'fade-out',
  }}
>
  <Page />
</ViewTransition>

The default key inside the object is the fallback when no type matches. If any type has the value "none", the ViewTransition is disabled for that trigger.

Using Types with CSS :active-view-transition-type()

React adds transition types as browser view transition types, enabling pure CSS scoping with :root:active-view-transition-type(type-name). Caveat: ::view-transition-old(*) / ::view-transition-new(*) match all named elements — the wildcard can override specific class-based animations. Prefer class-based props for per-component animations; reserve :active-view-transition-type() for global rules.

The types array is also available as the second argument in event callbacks (onEnter, onExit, etc.) — see references/patterns.md.

Types and Suspense: When Types Are Available

When a <Link> with transitionTypes triggers navigation, the transition type is available to all<ViewTransition>s that enter/exit during that navigation. An outer page-level <ViewTransition> with a type map sees the type and responds. Inner <ViewTransition>s with simple string props also enter — the type is irrelevant to them because simple strings fire regardless of type.

Subsequent Suspense reveals — when streamed data loads after navigation completes — are separate transitions with no type. This means type-keyed props on Suspense content don't work:

// This does NOT animate on Suspense reveal — the type is gone by then
<ViewTransition enter={{ "nav-forward": "slide-up", default: "none" }} default="none">
  <AsyncContent />
</ViewTransition>

When Suspense resolves later, a new transition fires with no type — so default: "none" applies and nothing animates.

Use type maps for<ViewTransition>s that enter/exit directly with the navigation. Use simple string props for Suspense reveals. See the two-layer pattern in "Two Patterns — Can Coexist with Proper Isolation" below for a complete example.

Shared Element Transitions

Assign the same name to two <ViewTransition> components — one in the unmounting tree and one in the mounting tree — to animate between them as if they're the same element:

const HERO_IMAGE = 'hero-image';

function ListView({ onSelect }) {
  return (
    <ViewTransition name={HERO_IMAGE}>
      <img src="/thumb.jpg" onClick={() => startTransition(() => onSelect())} />
    </ViewTransition>
  );
}

function DetailView() {
  return (
    <ViewTransition name={HERO_IMAGE}>
      <img src="/full.jpg" />
    </ViewTransition>
  );
}

Rules for shared element transitions:

• Only one <ViewTransition> with a given name can be mounted at a time — use globally unique names (namespace with a prefix or module constant).
• The "share" trigger takes precedence over "enter"/"exit".
• If either side is outside the viewport, no pair forms and each side animates independently as enter/exit.
• Use a constant defined in a shared module to avoid name collisions.

View Transition Events (JavaScript Animations)

For imperative control with onEnter, onExit, onUpdate, onShare callbacks and the instance object (.old, .new, .group, .imagePair, .name), see references/patterns.md. Always return a cleanup function from event handlers. Only one event fires per <ViewTransition> per Transition — takes precedence over /.

Common Patterns

Animate Enter/Exit of a Component

Conditionally render the <ViewTransition> itself — toggle with startTransition:

{show && (
  <ViewTransition enter="fade-in" exit="fade-out">
    <Panel />
  </ViewTransition>
)}

Animate List Reorder

Wrap each item (not a wrapper div) in <ViewTransition> with a stable key:

{items.map(item => (
  <ViewTransition key={item.id}>
    <ItemCard item={item} />
  </ViewTransition>
))}

Triggering the reorder inside startTransition will smoothly animate each item to its new position. Avoid wrapper <div>s between the list and <ViewTransition> — they block the reorder animation.

How it works: startTransition doesn't need async work to animate. The View Transition API captures a "before" snapshot of the DOM, then React applies the state update, and the API captures an "after" snapshot. As long as items change position between snapshots, the animation runs — even for purely synchronous local state changes like sorting.

Force Re-Enter with key

Use a key prop on <ViewTransition> to force an enter/exit animation when a value changes — even if the component itself doesn't unmount:

<ViewTransition key={searchParams.toString()} enter="slide-up" exit="slide-down" default="none">
  <ResultsGrid results={results} />
</ViewTransition>

When the key changes, React unmounts and remounts the <ViewTransition>, which triggers exit on the old instance and enter on the new one. This is useful for animating content swaps driven by URL parameters, tab switches, or any state change where the content identity changes but the component type stays the same.

Caution with Suspense: If the <ViewTransition> wraps a <Suspense>, changing the key remounts the entire Suspense boundary, re-triggering the data fetch. Only use key on <ViewTransition> outside of Suspense, or accept the refetch.

Animate Suspense Fallback to Content

The simplest approach: wrap <Suspense> in a single <ViewTransition> for a zero-config cross-fade from skeleton to content:

<ViewTransition>
  <Suspense fallback={<Skeleton />}>
    <Content />
  </Suspense>
</ViewTransition>

For directional motion, give the fallback and content separate <ViewTransition>s. Use default="none" on the content to prevent re-animation on revalidation:

<Suspense
  fallback={
    <ViewTransition exit="slide-down">
      <Skeleton />
    </ViewTransition>
  }
>
  <ViewTransition default="none" enter="slide-up">
    <AsyncContent />
  </ViewTransition>
</Suspense>

Whyexit on the fallback and enter on the content? When Suspense resolves, two things happen simultaneously in one transition: the fallback unmounts (exit) and the content mounts (enter). The fallback slides down and fades out while the content slides up and fades in — creating a smooth handoff. The staggered CSS timing (enter delays by the exit duration) ensures the skeleton leaves before new content arrives.

Opt Out of Nested Animations

Wrap children in <ViewTransition update="none"> to prevent them from animating when a parent changes:

<ViewTransition>
  <div className={theme}>
    <ViewTransition update="none">
      {children}
    </ViewTransition>
  </div>
</ViewTransition>

For more patterns (isolate persistent/floating elements, reusable animated collapse, preserve state with <Activity>, exclude elements with useOptimistic), see references/patterns.md.

How Multiple <ViewTransition>s Interact

When a transition fires, every <ViewTransition> in the tree that matches the trigger participates simultaneously. Each gets its own view-transition-name, and the browser animates all of them inside a single document.startViewTransition call. They run in parallel, not sequentially.

This means multiple <ViewTransition>s that fire during the same transition all animate at once. A layout-level cross-fade + a page-level slide-up + per-item reorder all running in the same document.startViewTransition produces competing animations. But <ViewTransition>s that fire in different transitions (e.g., navigation vs. a later Suspense resolve) don't compete — they animate at different moments.

Use default="none" Liberally

Prevent unintended animations by disabling the default trigger on ViewTransitions that should only fire for specific types:

// Only animates when 'navigation-forward' or 'navigation-back' types are present.
// Silent on all other transitions (Suspense reveals, state changes, etc.)
<ViewTransition
  default="none"
  enter={{
    'navigation-forward': 'slide-in-from-right',
    'navigation-back': 'slide-in-from-left',
    default: 'none',
  }}
  exit={{
    'navigation-forward': 'slide-out-to-left',
    'navigation-back': 'slide-out-to-right',
    default: 'none',
  }}
>
  {children}
</ViewTransition>

TypeScript note: When passing an object to enter/exit, the ViewTransitionClassPerType type requires a default key. Always include default: 'none' (or 'auto') in the object — omitting it causes a type error even if the component-level default prop is set.

Without default="none", a <ViewTransition> with default="auto" (the implicit default) fires the browser's cross-fade on every transition — including ones triggered by child Suspense boundaries, useDeferredValue updates, or startTransition calls within the page.

Next.js revalidation: This is especially important in Next.js — when revalidateTag() fires (from a Server Action, webhook, or polling), the page re-renders. Without default="none", every <ViewTransition> in the tree re-animates: content slides up again, things flash. Always use default="none" on content <ViewTransition>s and only enable specific triggers (enter, exit) explicitly.

Two Patterns — Can Coexist with Proper Isolation

There are two distinct view transition patterns:

Pattern A — Directional page slides (e.g., left/right navigation):

• Uses transitionTypes on <Link> or addTransitionType to tag navigation direction
• An outer <ViewTransition> on the page maps types to slide classes with default="none"
• Fires during the navigation transition (when the type is present)

Pattern B — Suspense content reveals (e.g., streaming data):

• No transitionTypes needed
• Simple enter="slide-up" / exit="slide-down" on <ViewTransition>s around Suspense boundaries
• default="none" prevents re-animation on revalidation
• Fires later when data loads (a separate transition with no type)

These coexist when they fire at different moments. The nav slide fires during the navigation transition (with the type); the Suspense reveal fires later when data streams in (no type). default="none" on both layers prevents cross-interference — the nav VT ignores Suspense resolves, and the Suspense VT ignores navigations:

<ViewTransition
  enter={{ "nav-forward": "slide-from-right", default: "none" }}
  exit={{ "nav-forward": "slide-to-left", default: "none" }}
  default="none"
>
  <div>
    <Suspense fallback={
      <ViewTransition exit="slide-down"><Skeleton /></ViewTransition>
    }>
      <ViewTransition enter="slide-up" default="none">
        <Content />
      </ViewTransition>
    </Suspense>
  </div>
</ViewTransition>

Always pairenter with exit on directional transitions. Without an exit animation, the old page disappears instantly while the new one slides in at scroll position 0 — a jarring jump. The exit slide masks the scroll change within the transition snapshot because the old content animates out simultaneously.

When they DO conflict: If both layers use default="auto", or if a layout-level <ViewTransition> fires a cross-fade during the same transition as a page-level slide-up, they animate simultaneously and fight for attention. The conflict is about same-moment animations, not about using both patterns on the same page.

Place the outer directional <ViewTransition> in each page component — not in a layout (layouts persist and don't trigger enter/exit). Per-page wrappers are the cleanest approach.

Shared element transitions (name prop) work alongside either pattern because the share trigger takes precedence over enter/exit.

Next.js Integration

Next.js supports React View Transitions. <ViewTransition> works out of the box for startTransition- and Suspense-triggered updates — no config needed.

To also animate <Link> navigations, enable the experimental flag in next.config.js (or next.config.ts):

const nextConfig = {
  experimental: {
    viewTransition: true,
  },
};
module.exports = nextConfig;

What this flag does: It wraps every <Link> navigation in document.startViewTransition, so all mounted <ViewTransition> components participate in every link click. Without this flag, only startTransition/Suspense-triggered transitions animate. This makes the composition rules in "How Multiple <ViewTransition>s Interact" especially important: use default="none" on layout-level <ViewTransition>s to avoid competing animations.

For a detailed guide including App Router patterns and Server Component considerations, see references/nextjs.md.

Key points:

• The <ViewTransition> component is imported from react directly — no Next.js-specific import.
• Works with the App Router and startTransition + router.push() for programmatic navigation.

The transitionTypes prop on next/link

next/link supports a native transitionTypes prop — pass an array of strings directly, no 'use client' or wrapper component needed:

<Link href="/products/1" transitionTypes={['transition-to-detail']}>View Product</Link>

For full examples with shared element transitions and directional animations, see references/nextjs.md.

Accessibility

Always respect prefers-reduced-motion. React does not disable animations automatically for this preference. Add this to your global CSS:

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  ::view-transition-old(*),
  ::view-transition-new(*),
  ::view-transition-group(*) {
    animation-duration: 0s !important;
    animation-delay: 0s !important;
  }
}

Or disable specific animations conditionally in JavaScript events by checking the media query.

Reference Files

• references/patterns.md — Real-world patterns (searchable grids, expand/collapse, type-safe helpers), animation timing, view transition events (JavaScript Animations API), and troubleshooting.
• references/css-recipes.md — Ready-to-use CSS animation recipes (slide, fade, scale, directional nav, and combined patterns).
• references/nextjs.md — Detailed Next.js integration guide with App Router patterns and Server Component considerations.

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