Animation can be good and it can be bad. Following these principles will help you quickly determine whether or not animation is a good idea.

1. Don’t ever animate just to show off.

Is the reason you are animating something just to show you can do it? If so, stop right now. Showing restraint with animation will show how really cool you are.

2. Use animation to show something has changed.

When data changes on the page, sometimes the user isn’t aware. Animating colors, size changes or motion can help user recognize that a change has been made.

3. Use animation to make sure the user is looking in the right place.

Sometimes you need to get the user’s attention. Animating an object on a web page can help the user understand where they should be looking.

If you think you understand these principles, go ahead and test your knowledge.