The steps() CSS function defines a transition that divides the input time into a specified number of intervals that are equal in length. This subclass of step functions are sometimes also called staircase functions.

Syntax

/* Different intervals */
steps(2, end)
steps(4, jump-end)
steps(12, end)

/* Different jump positions */
steps(3, jump-start)
steps(3, jump-end)
steps(3, jump-none)
steps(3, jump-both)

Parameters

The function accepts the following parameters:

<integer>

Represents the number of equidistant intervals or 'steps'. It must be a positive integer greater than 0 unless the second parameter is jump-none, in which case, it must be a positive integer greater than 1.

<step-position>

Specifies when the jump between values occurs. If omitted, it defaults to end. The possible keyword values include:

jump-start or start

Indicates that the first step happens when the animation begins.

jump-end or end

Indicates that the last step happens when the animation ends.

jump-none

Indicates neither early nor late jumps happen.

jump-both

Indicates both early and late jumps happen.

Description

The steps() function divides the animation duration into equal intervals. For example, steps(4, end) divides the animation into four equal intervals, with values changing at the end of each interval except the last change which occurs at the animation's end.

If an animation contains multiple segments, the specified number of steps applies to each segment. For example, if an animation has three segments and uses steps(2), there will be six steps in total, with two steps per segment.

The following image shows the affect of different <step-position> values when the jumps occur:

steps(2, jump-start)  /* Or steps(2, start) */
steps(4, jump-end)    /* Or steps(4, end) */
steps(5, jump-none)
steps(3, jump-both)

Formal syntax

<steps()> = 
  steps( <integer> , <step-position>? )  

<step-position> = 
  jump-start  |
  jump-end    |
  jump-none   |
  jump-both   |
  start       |
  end         

Examples

Using the steps() function

The following steps() functions are valid:

/* Five steps with jump at the end */
steps(5, end)

/* Two steps with jump at the start */
steps(2, start)

/* Using default second parameter */
steps(2)

The following steps() functions are invalid:

/* First parameter must be an <integer>, not a real value */
steps(2.0, jump-end)

/* Number of steps must be positive */
steps(-3, start)

/* Number of steps must be at least 1 */
steps(0, jump-none)

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Other easing functions: cubic-bezier() and linear()
• CSS easing functions module
• Step function on Wikipedia