# How do I hand off animations to developers?

> Give developers the exact values, not just a video: durations, easing curves or spring settings, delays, the states involved and what triggers each change. The most reliable handoff is a runtime file (Lottie, Rive or ExodeUI) that plays the designed animation directly, so nobody has to rebuild it. For coded animations, share a spec plus a prototype.

Updated November 2026. Source: https://www.exodeui.com/questions/how-to-hand-off-animations-to-developers/

## Key takeaways

- A video shows the feel but hides the numbers
- Spec every transition: trigger, duration, easing or spring, delay, properties
- Name states and inputs the same way designers and developers do
- Motion tokens keep values consistent across the product
- Runtime files remove the rebuild step for complex motion

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a screen recording enough for handoff?

It helps show the feel, but developers also need the exact values and triggers.

### How do I spec a spring animation?

Give stiffness, damping and mass, or response and damping fraction for SwiftUI, plus which properties use it.

### Can Figma hand off animations?

Figma prototypes show transitions and some values. Complex motion still needs a spec or a runtime file.

### Who owns motion, design or engineering?

Both. Designers own intent and values; engineers own performance and integration. A shared file helps.

## Related

- [Best design handoff tools for motion](https://www.exodeui.com/best-design-handoff-tools-for-motion)
- [What are motion tokens?](https://www.exodeui.com/questions/what-are-motion-tokens)
- [AI coding assistants and design handoff](https://www.exodeui.com/learn/ai-coding-assistants-design-handoff)
- [How to convert Figma animation to React code](https://www.exodeui.com/questions/how-to-convert-figma-animation-to-react-code)