A motion brief is easier to review when everyone uses the same vocabulary. These short definitions explain the formats, interactions and handoff terms that come up in web animation projects.
- Lottie
- An animation format and player ecosystem used to render exported motion on websites and in apps.
- Bodymovin
- An After Effects extension commonly used to export Lottie-compatible animation data.
- dotLottie
- A container format for packaging animation data and related assets; the selected player must support it.
- SVG
- Scalable Vector Graphics: a vector image format that can be styled and animated on the web.
- Rive
- A design and animation tool with runtimes for interactive graphics, including state-machine playback.
- GSAP
- A JavaScript animation library used to coordinate properties, timelines and interactive motion.
- State machine
- A model that defines visual states and the transitions triggered by inputs or conditions.
- Micro-interaction
- A small piece of feedback around a user action, such as acknowledging a click or a successful save.
- Empty state
- The interface shown when there is no content yet, often used to explain the next useful action.
- Reduced motion
- A user preference to minimize nonessential movement. Provide a static or quieter experience when it is enabled.
- Motion handoff
- The assets, specifications and implementation notes delivered so a developer can integrate an animation correctly.
- File budget
- An agreed size limit for a deliverable. It should be tested alongside rendering cost and runtime overhead.
Further reading: Lottie web · Rive runtime documentation.
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