seniorCSS
Explain browser Painting and Compositing.
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
Painting is filling in pixels. Compositing is drawing different layers of the page to the screen in the correct order.
Deep explanation
When DOM or CSS changes, the browser calculates Layout, then Paints layers, then Composites them. Changing properties like width triggers Layout, Paint, and Composite. Changing background-color triggers Paint and Composite. Changing transform only triggers Composite (fastest).
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