How do animations work in React Native at a low level?

Updated May 6, 2026

Short answer

Animations update UI over time using JS-driven or native-driven execution paths.

Deep explanation

React Native animations can be driven by JS thread (Animated API) or UI thread (Reanimated). JS-driven animations are susceptible to frame drops when JS is busy. Native-driven animations offload computation to UI thread using native drivers or worklets, ensuring smooth 60fps transitions.

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