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Put Reduced Motion in the Animation Handoff
Inventory interface motion, define reduced alternatives, and verify behavior across website templates.
**Published: September 10, 2026**
An animation specification needs a second column: what happens when a visitor asks the operating system to reduce motion. Removing every transition is not always necessary, but leaving the choice to each developer creates uneven behavior.
Inventory motion by purpose
List entrance effects, parallax, scrolling, carousels, progress changes, decorative loops, and animated media. Note which motion communicates state and which is decorative. Capture duration, trigger, repetition, and stop controls.
Design the reduced alternative
Replace large movement with an immediate state change, a short fade, or a static presentation when that keeps the meaning. Do not hide content because its reveal animation is disabled. Give visitors a pause control where motion continues independently.
Verify the preference
Switch the system preference before loading the page, then inspect every representative component. Check after client-side navigation and after changing the preference while the page is open. Record any animation that remains and why it is necessary.
Further reading
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Keep this decision with the approved page brief and acceptance record.