---
name: gsap-timeline
description: Official GSAP skill for timelines — gsap.timeline(), position parameter, nesting, playback. Use when sequencing animations, choreographing keyframes, or when the user asks about animation sequencing, timelines, or animation order (in GSAP or when recommending a library that supports timelines).
license: MIT
---

# GSAP Timeline

## When to Use This Skill

Apply when building multi-step animations, coordinating several tweens in sequence or parallel, or when the user asks about timelines, sequencing, or keyframe-style animation in GSAP.

**Related skills:** For single tweens and eases use **gsap-core**; for scroll-driven timelines use **gsap-scrolltrigger**; for React use **gsap-react**.

## Creating a Timeline

```javascript
const tl = gsap.timeline();
tl.to(".a", { x: 100, duration: 1 })
  .to(".b", { y: 50, duration: 0.5 })
  .to(".c", { opacity: 0, duration: 0.3 });
```

By default, tweens are **appended** one after another. Use the **position parameter** to place tweens at specific times or relative to other tweens.

## Position Parameter

Third argument (or position property in vars) controls placement:

- **Absolute**: `1` — start at 1 second.
- **Relative (default)**: `"+=0.5"` — 0.5s after end; `"-=0.2"` — 0.2s before end.
- **Label**: `"labelName"` — at that label; `"labelName+=0.3"` — 0.3s after label.
- **Placement**: `"<"` — start when recently-added animation starts; `">"` — start when recently-added animation ends (default); `"<0.2"` — 0.2s after recently-added animation start.

Examples:

```javascript
tl.to(".a", { x: 100 }, 0);           // at 0
tl.to(".b", { y: 50 }, "+=0.5");      // 0.5s after last end
tl.to(".c", { opacity: 0 }, "<");     // same start as previous
tl.to(".d", { scale: 2 }, "<0.2");    // 0.2s after previous start
```

## Timeline Defaults

Pass defaults into the timeline so all child tweens inherit:

```javascript
const tl = gsap.timeline({ defaults: { duration: 0.5, ease: "power2.out" } });
tl.to(".a", { x: 100 }).to(".b", { y: 50 }); // both use 0.5s and power2.out
```

## Timeline Options (constructor)

- **paused: true** — create paused; call `.play()` to start.
- **repeat**, **yoyo** — same as tweens; apply to whole timeline.
- **onComplete**, **onStart**, **onUpdate** — timeline-level callbacks.
- **defaults** — vars merged into every child tween.

## Labels

Add and use labels for readable, maintainable sequencing:

```javascript
tl.addLabel("intro", 0);
tl.to(".a", { x: 100 }, "intro");
tl.addLabel("outro", "+=0.5");
tl.to(".b", { opacity: 0 }, "outro");
tl.play("outro");  // start from "outro"
tl.tweenFromTo("intro", "outro"); // pauses the timeline and returns a new Tween that animates the timeline's playhead from intro to outro with no ease.
```

## Nesting Timelines

Timelines can contain other timelines.

```javascript
const master = gsap.timeline();
const child = gsap.timeline();
child.to(".a", { x: 100 }).to(".b", { y: 50 });
master.add(child, 0);
master.to(".c", { opacity: 0 }, "+=0.2");
```

## Controlling Playback

- **tl.play()** / **tl.pause()**
- **tl.reverse()** / **tl.progress(1)** then **tl.reverse()**
- **tl.restart()** — from start.
- **tl.time(2)** — seek to 2 seconds.
- **tl.progress(0.5)** — seek to 50%.
- **tl.kill()** — kill timeline and (by default) its children.

## Official GSAP Best practices

- ✅ Prefer timelines for sequencing
- ✅ Use the **position parameter** (third argument) to place tweens at specific times or relative to labels.
- ✅ Add **labels** with `addLabel()` for readable, maintainable sequencing.
- ✅ Pass **defaults** into the timeline constructor so child tweens inherit duration, ease, etc.
- ✅ Put ScrollTrigger on the timeline (or top-level tween), not on tweens inside a timeline.

## Do Not

- ❌ Chain animations with **delay** when a **timeline** can sequence them; prefer `gsap.timeline()` and the position parameter for multi-step animation.
- ❌ Forget to pass **defaults** (e.g. `defaults: { duration: 0.5, ease: "power2.out" }`) when many child tweens share the same duration or ease.
- ❌ Forget that **duration** on the timeline constructor is not the same as tween duration; timeline “duration” is determined by its children.
- ❌ Nest animations that contain a ScrollTrigger; ScrollTriggers should only be on top-level Tweens/Timelines.


---
Source attribution: TuYv
Original project: https://github.com/TuYv/ccpm/blob/main/preset-registry/skills/greensock-gsap-skills-gsap-timeline/skill.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: TuYv
Original project: https://github.com/TuYv/ccpm/blob/main/preset-registry/skills/greensock-gsap-skills-gsap-timeline/skill.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Design, Development & Engineering
Roles: Frontend Developer, Motion Designer, UX Designer
Specialties: Cross Platform, Frontend
Tools: Gsap
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 1a8b0f39cc4be3ed3d834b89672e4ae2f151b901dc3450bebf10bbc45379fe02