Animation Patterns

Animation Patterns

Correct API shapes and patterns for SwiftUI animations. Prevents the most common mistakes: mixed spring parameter generations, wrong PhaseAnimator/KeyframeAnimator closure signatures, and using matchedGeometryEffect where matchedTransitionSource is needed.

When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user:

• Asks to add, fix, or review animation code
• Mentions spring, bounce, or snappy animations
• Wants view transitions (insertion/removal, hero, zoom)
• Asks about PhaseAnimator or KeyframeAnimator
• Wants SF Symbol effects (bounce, pulse, wiggle, breathe)
• Mentions matchedGeometryEffect or matchedTransitionSource
• Asks about reduce motion / animation accessibility
• Wants to sequence or chain animations
• Mentions withAnimation, animation completions, or Transaction

Decision Tree

Choose the right reference file based on what the user needs:

What are you animating?
│
├─ A state change (opacity, position, color)
│  └─ → core-animations.md
│     ├─ withAnimation { } — explicit animation
│     ├─ .animation(_:value:) — implicit animation
│     └─ Spring configuration — .spring, .bouncy, .snappy, .smooth
│
├─ A multi-step / sequenced animation
│  └─ → phase-keyframe-animators.md (PhaseAnimator)
│     └─ Cycles through discrete phases automatically or on trigger
│
├─ A complex multi-property animation (scale + rotation + offset)
│  └─ → phase-keyframe-animators.md (KeyframeAnimator)
│     └─ Timeline-based keyframes with per-property tracks
│
├─ A view appearing / disappearing
│  └─ → transitions.md
│     ├─ .transition() — insertion/removal
│     ├─ .contentTransition() — text/symbol changes
│     └─ .asymmetric() — different in/out
│
├─ A hero / zoom navigation transition
│  └─ → transitions.md (matchedTransitionSource section)
│     ├─ iOS 18+: matchedTransitionSource + .navigationTransition(.zoom)
│     └─ iOS 14+: matchedGeometryEffect (NOT for NavigationStack)
│
├─ An SF Symbol animation
│  └─ → symbol-effects.md
│     └─ .symbolEffect(.bounce), .pulse, .wiggle, .breathe, .rotate
│
└─ Spring physics / timing configuration
   └─ → core-animations.md (Spring Configurations section)

API Availability

| API | Minimum Version | Reference | |-----|----------------|-----------| | withAnimation | iOS 13 | core-animations.md | | .animation(_:value:) | iOS 13 | core-animations.md | | .spring(response:dampingFraction:) | iOS 13 | core-animations.md | | .matchedGeometryEffect | iOS 14 | transitions.md | | .transition(.push(from:)) | iOS 16 | transitions.md | | .contentTransition(.numericText()) | iOS 16 | transitions.md | | PhaseAnimator | iOS 17 | phase-keyframe-animators.md | | KeyframeAnimator | iOS 17 | phase-keyframe-animators.md | | .spring(duration:bounce:) | iOS 17 | core-animations.md | | Spring presets (.bouncy, .snappy, .smooth) | iOS 17 | core-animations.md | | withAnimation(_:completionCriteria:_:completion:) | iOS 17 | core-animations.md | | .symbolEffect() | iOS 17 | symbol-effects.md | | .transition(.blurReplace) | iOS 17 | transitions.md | | .contentTransition(.symbolEffect(.replace)) | iOS 17 | transitions.md | | .matchedTransitionSource | iOS 18 | transitions.md | | .navigationTransition(.zoom) | iOS 18 | transitions.md |

Top 5 Mistakes — Quick Reference

| # | Mistake | Fix | Details | |---|---------|-----|---------| | 1 | spring(response:bounce:) — mixing parameter generations | Use either spring(response:dampingFraction:) (iOS 13) or spring(duration:bounce:) (iOS 17) | core-animations.md | | 2 | .animation(.spring()) without value: parameter | Always pass value: — the no-value variant is deprecated (iOS 15) | core-animations.md | | 3 | Wrong PhaseAnimator closure signature | PhaseAnimator(phases) { content, phase in } — not { phase in } | phase-keyframe-animators.md | | 4 | Using matchedGeometryEffect for NavigationStack transitions | Use matchedTransitionSource + .navigationTransition(.zoom) on iOS 18+ | transitions.md | | 5 | Using withAnimation for SF Symbol effects | Use .symbolEffect() modifier instead | symbol-effects.md |

Review Checklist

When reviewing animation code, verify:

• [ ] Reduce motion — animations respect AccessibilityMotionEffect or UIAccessibility.isReduceMotionEnabled; provide non-motion alternatives
• [ ] Duration limits — no animation exceeds ~0.5s for UI feedback; longer only for decorative/ambient effects
• [ ] Spring vs linear — springs for interactive/physical motion; linear/easeInOut only for opacity fades or progress indicators
• [ ] No deprecated APIs — .animation(.spring()) without value: is deprecated; .animation(nil) is replaced by withTransaction
• [ ] Correct spring generation — parameter names match the same API generation (never mix response with bounce)
• [ ] Completion handlers — using withAnimation(_:completionCriteria:_:completion:) (iOS 17+), not inventing .onAnimationCompleted
• [ ] Transition scope — .transition() only affects views inside if/switch controlled by state; not for views that are always present

Reference Files

| File | Content | |------|---------| | [core-animations.md](core-animations.md) | withAnimation, springs, completions, transactions, timing curves | | [phase-keyframe-animators.md](phase-keyframe-animators.md) | PhaseAnimator, KeyframeAnimator, custom animations | | [transitions.md](transitions.md) | View transitions, matched geometry, navigation transitions | | [symbol-effects.md](symbol-effects.md) | SF Symbol effects, accessibility |

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: rshankras
• Source: rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.