Did anyone else experience cursor lag when implementing a custom cursor in Webflow?

Published on
September 22, 2023

When implementing a custom cursor in Webflow, it is possible to encounter cursor lag or delays in the cursor movement. This issue typically arises when the custom cursor is created using JavaScript or CSS animations. The lag is often due to the additional processing power required to animate the cursor, especially if the animation is complex or has a high frame rate.

To mitigate cursor lag when implementing a custom cursor in Webflow, consider the following tips:

  1. Simplify the animation: If you're experiencing cursor lag, it might be helpful to simplify the animation of the custom cursor. Reduce the complexity, number of frames, or frame rate to make it more lightweight and efficient.

  2. Optimize JavaScript code: If you're using JavaScript to create the custom cursor, check your code for inefficient operations or unnecessary calculations. Streamline the code to improve performance and reduce lag.

  3. Leverage CSS animations: If possible, use CSS animations instead of JavaScript animations for your custom cursor. CSS animations tend to be more performant and can help reduce lag.

  4. Use hardware acceleration: Enable hardware acceleration for your custom cursor animation. By using CSS properties like transform: translateZ(0); or will-change: transform;, you can offload the rendering to the GPU, resulting in smoother cursor movement.

  5. Test and optimize: Regularly test and optimize your custom cursor implementation by reviewing the performance in different browsers and devices. Identify any specific issues and address them accordingly.

It's worth noting that cursor lag can sometimes be caused by other factors unrelated to Webflow, such as the device's processing power, browser compatibility, or extensions/plugins. Therefore, it's important to thoroughly test your custom cursor on different devices and browsers to ensure optimal performance.

By following these tips, you should be able to minimize or eliminate cursor lag when implementing a custom cursor in Webflow, resulting in a smoother user experience.