Why is requestAnimationFrame Better Than setInterval or setTimeout?

Why is requestAnimationFrame better than setInterval or setTimeout

requestAnimationFrame is a JavaScript function that is used to schedule tasks to be executed once the browser is ready to perform the next repaint - typically, this occurs at 60fps. It's typically used to perform animations in a browser.

setInterval and setTimeout, on the other hand, are JavaScript functions that are used to schedule tasks to be executed at specific intervals or delays.

There are a few key benefits of using requestAnimationFrame over setInterval or setTimeout for animation:

• Improved performance: requestAnimationFrame only fires when the browser is ready to perform the next repaint, which means that it doesn’t waste resources on running animations when the browser is busy doing other things. This can lead to smoother animations and better performance.
• Reduced flicker: requestAnimationFrame can help to reduce flicker in animations because it ensures that animations are only updated when the browser is ready to display them.
• Greater control: requestAnimationFrame provides you with greater control over the timing of your animations. You can use it to create animations that are synchronized with the browser’s refresh rate, which can lead to smoother animations.
  The main reason requestAnimationFrame is better than setTimeout and setInterval is that it is synchronized to the display refresh rate.

This means that when you use requestAnimationFrame, your animations will always run at the same speed, regardless of how fast or slow your computer is. This can help to create smooth, fluid animations that are pleasing to the eye.

In addition to being synchronized to the display refresh rate, requestAnimationFrame also provides you with a high-resolution time stamp that you can use to track the progress of your animations. This can be useful for creating complex animations that require precise timing.

Here is an example of how you can use requestAnimationFrame to create a simple animation:

function animate(time) {
  // Update the animation
  
  // Schedule the next animation frame
  requestAnimationFrame(animate);
}

// Start the animation
requestAnimationFrame(animate);

This code will create an animation that will run at the same speed on all computers. The animation will be updated each time the browser is ready to perform the next repaint.

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