GSAP Performance Optimization

GSAP is highly performant by design, but proper optimization ensures smooth 60fps animations even with complex effects. Master ticker, lag smoothing, staggers, and utilities for best results.

Ticker and Lag Smoothing

Basic Ticker Control

// Get ticker settings
console.log(gsap.ticker.fps())
console.log(gsap.ticker.time())
console.log(gsap.ticker.delta)

Lag Smoothing

// Default lag smoothing (prevents visual jumps during CPU lag)
gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(1000, 16)
// 1000ms threshold, 16ms treated as max lag

// Disable lag smoothing
gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(0)

// Custom smoothing
gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(500, 33)  // 500ms threshold, 33ms max

Add Ticker Callback

// Add to ticker
const callback = (time, deltaTime, frame) => {
  console.log('Tick:', time, deltaTime)
}

gsap.ticker.add(callback)

// Remove from ticker
gsap.ticker.remove(callback)

// Callback with priority
gsap.ticker.add(callback, false, 1)  // Priority 1

Global Ticker Use

// Synchronize with ticker
function syncWithTicker() {
  gsap.ticker.add(() => {
    // Run on every animation frame
    updateUI()
  })
}

// Stop synchronization
function stopSync() {
  gsap.ticker.remove(updateUI)
}

Stagger Optimization

Basic Stagger

// Stagger delays - distributes load
gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 200,
  duration: 1,
  stagger: 0.1  // Good for performance
})

Stagger with Ease

// Non-linear stagger - more natural feel
gsap.from('.item', {
  opacity: 0,
  y: 20,
  stagger: {
    each: 0.05,
    ease: 'power2.out',  // Slower start, faster end
    from: 'center'
  },
  duration: 0.8
})

Grid Stagger

// Grid pattern - efficient for large numbers
gsap.to('.grid-item', {
  scale: 1,
  opacity: 1,
  stagger: {
    each: 0.05,
    from: 'center',
    grid: [10, 5],  // 10 columns, 5 rows
    ease: 'power2.inOut'
  },
  duration: 0.6
})

Avoid Tiny Staggers

// ❌ Too small - uneven execution
gsap.to('.many-boxes', {
  x: 100,
  stagger: 0.006  // Too small!
})

// ✅ Reasonable stagger
gsap.to('.many-boxes', {
  x: 100,
  stagger: 0.05  // Better
})

Snapping

Basic Snap

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 500,
  snap: 20  // Snap every 20px
})

Snap to Array

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 500,
  snap: [0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500]
})

Snap with Radius

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 500,
  snap: {
    x: {
      points: [0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500],
      radius: 10,  // Within 10px of point
      velocity: 0  // Don't affect velocity
    }
  }
})

Live Snap Performance

// For better performance, reduce delay
gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 500,
  snap: {
    x: 20,
    delay: 0.01  // Lower delay
  }
})

Modifiers

Basic Modifier

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 200,
  modifiers: {
    x: gsap.utils.unitize(x => Math.round(x / 10) * 10)  // Round to nearest 10
  }
})

Clamping Modifier

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 500,
  modifiers: {
    x: gsap.utils.pipe(
      gsap.utils.clamp(0, 400)  // Clamp between 0 and 400
    )
  }
})

Complex Modifier

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 500,
  y: 500,
  modifiers: {
    x: value => Math.round(value),
    y: value => Math.max(0, value)  // Never go negative
  }
})

Keyframes

Condense Tweens

// ❌ Multiple tweens
gsap.to('.box', { x: 100, duration: 1 })
gsap.to('.box', { y: 100, duration: 1 })
gsap.to('.box', { rotation: 90, duration: 1 })

// ✅ Use keyframes
gsap.to('.box', {
  keyframes: [
    { x: 100, duration: 1 },
    { y: 100, duration: 1 },
    { rotation: 90, duration: 1 }
  ]
})

Keyframes with Eases

gsap.to('.box', {
  keyframes: [
    { x: 100, duration: 1, ease: 'power2.out' },
    { y: 100, duration: 1, ease: 'back.out' },
    { rotation: 90, duration: 1, ease: 'elastic.out' }
  ]
})

Keyframe Duration Control

gsap.to('.box', {
  duration: 3,  // Total duration
  keyframes: [
    { x: 100, duration: 1 },  // 1/3 of total
    { y: 100, duration: 1 },  // 1/3 of total
    { rotation: 90, duration: 1 }  // 1/3 of total
  ]
})

Ease Each

gsap.to('.box', {
  keyframes: [
    { x: 100 },
    { y: 100 },
    { rotation: 90 }
  ],
  easeEach: 'power1.out'  // Apply to all keyframes
})

Performance Utilities

Throttle

gsap.to('.box', {
  onUpdate: gsap.utils.throttle(() => {
    // Expensive operation runs at most every 100ms
    updateLayout()
  }, 100)
})

Debounce

ScrollTrigger.create({
  trigger: '.section',
  onUpdate: gsap.utils.debounce((self) => {
    console.log('Scroll position stabilized:', self.progress)
  }, 100)
})

Clamp

// Clamp value between min and max
const clamped = gsap.utils.clamp(0, 100, 150)  // Returns 100

Pipe

// Chain utilities
const process = gsap.utils.pipe(
  gsap.utils.clamp(0, 100),
  gsap.utils.mapRange(0, 100, 0, 500)
)

console.log(process(150))  // Returns 500

Optimization Strategies

Combine Animations

// ❌ Separate tweens
gsap.to('.box', { x: 100, duration: 1 })
gsap.to('.box', { y: 100, duration: 1 })
gsap.to('.box', { opacity: 0.5, duration: 1 })

// ✅ Combine properties
gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 100,
  y: 100,
  opacity: 0.5,
  duration: 1
})

Limit Active Tweens

// Kill tweens before creating new ones
gsap.killTweensOf('.box')
gsap.to('.box', { x: 200, duration: 1 })

Use Timelines

// Easier to control and optimize
const tl = gsap.timeline()

tl.to('.box1', { x: 100, duration: 1 })
  .to('.box2', { x: 100, duration: 1 })
  .to('.box3', { x: 100, duration: 1 })

// Control entire timeline
tl.kill()  // Kill all tweens at once

Batch Operations

// Batch ScrollTrigger
const elements = document.querySelectorAll('.element')

ScrollTrigger.batch(elements, {
  onEnter: batch => gsap.from(batch, {
    opacity: 0,
    y: 20,
    stagger: 0.1
  })
})

Animation Performance Tips

Use Transform Over Properties

// ❌ Slower - triggers layout
gsap.to('.box', {
  left: 200,
  top: 100,
  width: 100,
  height: 100
})

// ✅ Faster - GPU-accelerated
gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 200,
  y: 100,
  scale: 1.5
})

Avoid Filters on Many Elements

// ❌ Heavy on many elements
gsap.to('.many-boxes', {
  filter: 'blur(10px)',
  duration: 1
})

// ✅ Use sparingly
gsap.to('.few-boxes', {
  filter: 'blur(10px)',
  duration: 1
})

Use Will Change

// Optimize with will-change
gsap.set('.box', { willChange: 'transform, opacity' })

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 200,
  opacity: 0.5,
  duration: 1,

  onComplete: () => {
    gsap.set('.box', { willChange: 'auto' })
  }
})

Reduce Change Area

// Animate small areas for better performance
gsap.to('.small-indicator', {
  scale: 2,
  duration: 0.3
})

// Better than animating large area
gsap.to('.large-container', {
  scale: 1.1,
  duration: 0.3
})

ScrollTrigger Performance

Use Toggle Actions

// More performant than scrub for simple effects
gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 200,
  scrollTrigger: {
    trigger: '.box',
    start: 'top 80%',
    toggleActions: 'play none none reverse'
  }
})

Throttle Scroll Events

ScrollTrigger.config({
  ignoreMobileResize: true,  // Ignore mobile resize events
  autoRefreshEvents: 'visibilitychange,DOMContentLoaded'  // Custom events
})

Batch ScrollTriggers

// Create multiple ScrollTriggers efficiently
const elements = document.querySelectorAll('.element')

elements.forEach(el => {
  ScrollTrigger.create({
    trigger: el,
    start: 'top 80%',
    onEnter: () => gsap.to(el, { opacity: 1 })
  })
})

// Then batch refresh
ScrollTrigger.refresh()

Memory Management

Kill When Done

// Kill timeline when complete
const tl = gsap.timeline()

tl.to('.box', { x: 200, duration: 1 })

tl.eventCallback('onComplete', () => {
  tl.kill()
})

Clean Up References

// Remove references to prevent memory leaks
function animateAndCleanup() {
  const tl = gsap.timeline()

  tl.to('.box', { x: 200, duration: 1 })

  // Use animation
  tl.play()

  // Clean up
  setTimeout(() => {
    tl.kill()
  }, 2000)
}

Revert SplitText

const split = new SplitText('#text', { type: 'chars' })

gsap.from(split.chars, {
  opacity: 0,
  y: 20,
  onComplete: () => {
    split.revert()  // Clean up
  }
})

Performance Monitoring

Measure FPS

let frameCount = 0
let lastTime = performance.now()

gsap.ticker.add(() => {
  frameCount++
  const now = performance.now()

  if (now - lastTime >= 1000) {
    console.log('FPS:', frameCount)
    frameCount = 0
    lastTime = now
  }
})

Profile Animation

const start = performance.now()

gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 200,
  duration: 1,
  onComplete: () => {
    const duration = performance.now() - start
    console.log('Animation time:', duration)
  }
})

Common Mistakes

1. Over-scrubbing

// ❌ Scrub too many elements
gsap.to('.many-boxes', {
  x: 200,
  scrollTrigger: { scrub: true }
})

// ✅ Use toggle actions
gsap.to('.many-boxes', {
  x: 200,
  scrollTrigger: { toggleActions: 'play none none reverse' }
})

2. Animating Wrong Properties

// ❌ Triggers layout
gsap.to('.box', {
  left: 200,
  top: 100
})

// ✅ Use transform
gsap.to('.box', {
  x: 200,
  y: 100
})

3. Not Killing Tweens

// ❌ Memory leaks
function animateManyTimes() {
  gsap.to('.box', { x: 200, duration: 1 })
}

// ✅ Clean up
function animateManyTimes() {
  gsap.killTweensOf('.box')
  gsap.to('.box', { x: 200, duration: 1 })
}

Best Practices

1. Use transform properties - GPU-accelerated, no layout thrashing
2. Stagger animations - Distributes load, smoother experience
3. Combine properties - Fewer tweens = better performance
4. Use timelines - Easier control and cleanup
5. Kill when done - Free memory, prevent conflicts
6. Test on low-end devices - Ensure smooth performance
7. Profile bottlenecks - Identify expensive animations
8. Use appropriate eases - Complex eases cost more

Quick Reference

Feature	Method
Lag smoothing	gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(1000, 16)
Add callback	gsap.ticker.add(callback)
Remove callback	gsap.ticker.remove(callback)
Stagger	stagger: 0.1
Snap	snap: 20 or snap: [0, 100, 200]
Modifier	modifiers: { x: fn }
Keyframes	keyframes: [...]
Throttle	gsap.utils.throttle(fn, 100)
Debounce	gsap.utils.debounce(fn, 100)
Kill tweens	gsap.killTweensOf(target)
Will change	gsap.set(target, { willChange: 'transform' })