index.md

---

title: Animation.play()
slug: Web/API/Animation/play
page-type: web-api-instance-method
browser-compat: api.Animation.play

---

{{ APIRef("Web Animations") }}

The play() method of the Web Animations API's {{ domxref("Animation") }} Interface starts or resumes playing of an animation. If the animation is finished, calling play() restarts the animation, playing it from the beginning.

Syntax

play()

Parameters

None.

Return value

None ({{jsxref("undefined")}}).

Examples

In the Growing/Shrinking Alice Game example, clicking or tapping the cake causes Alice's growing animation (aliceChange) to play forward, causing her to get bigger, as well as triggering the cake's animation. Two Animation.play()s, one EventListener:

// The cake has its own animation:
const nommingCake = document
  .getElementById("eat-me_sprite")
  .animate(
    [{ transform: "translateY(0)" }, { transform: "translateY(-80%)" }],
    {
      fill: "forwards",
      easing: "steps(4, end)",
      duration: aliceChange.effect.timing.duration / 2,
    }
  );

// Pause the cake's animation so it doesn't play immediately.
nommingCake.pause();

// This function will play when ever a user clicks or taps
const growAlice = () => {
  // Play Alice's animation.
  aliceChange.play();

  // Play the cake's animation.
  nommingCake.play();
};

// When a user holds their mouse down or taps, call growAlice to make all the animations play.
cake.addEventListener("mousedown", growAlice, false);
cake.addEventListener("touchstart", growAlice, false);

Specifications

{{Specifications}}

Browser compatibility

{{Compat}}

See also

• Web Animations API

• {{domxref("Animation")}} for other methods and properties you can use to control web page animation.

• {{domxref("Animation.pause()")}} to pause an animation.

• {{domxref("Animation.reverse()")}} to play an animation backwards.

• {{domxref("Animation.finish()")}} to finish an animation.

• {{domxref("Animation.cancel()")}} to cancel an animation.