FrontendHaltCSS·Advanced·Conceptual·1 min read
Why can animating a pseudo-element be preferable to animating the element itself?
Short interview answer
It can isolate the animated paint or compositing work to a smaller, dedicated layer without affecting the main element's own box, sometimes avoiding unnecessary repaint of unrelated content.
Key takeaway
Explain the underlying mental model clearly, then support it with a concrete example and its trade-offs.