Building Grid List Collection Layout with GSAP Flip in Webflow: Tutorial

In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of building a grid list collection layout with GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform) Flip in Webflow. We will also cover implementing the reduced motion preference and local storage to store the user's layout preference.

Building the Layout in Webflow

Before delving into the JavaScript and GSAP implementation, let's set up the foundation in Webflow. For this tutorial, we have a simple project in Webflow with a structure that includes a custom Styles section under the body where the aspect ratio of the image class is set.

Under this, there is a section with padding and a container wrap. Inside the container wrap, there's a button element with a unique ID of flip-button. Additionally, a collection list has been created. The collection list consists of items from a collection called Dinosaurs. Each item inside the collection list contains an image and an H2 element. Two important style classes in Webflow to be noted are is-list and layout-item. The is-list class is used to define the list view, while the layout-item class represents individual items within the collection list.

Coding Without GSAP

Now, let's move on to coding without using GSAP. We'll first write the JavaScript necessary to switch between the list and grid layouts when the button is clicked. We'll write the necessary JavaScript code to toggle the is-list class and switch between the list and grid layouts.

After preparing the JavaScript code, we will add event listeners and write the code to handle the button click action. This is done to ensure that the required JavaScript runs when the button is clicked.

Implementing GSAP Flip Library

After accomplishing the switching behavior without GSAP, we will introduce the GSAP Flip library to incorporate animations. We'll use the flip plugin from GSAP to animate the layout change. Through the flip plugin, we'll be storing the initial state of the elements, performing style updates, and then executing the flip animation to morph the layout smoothly from list to grid and vice versa. Throughout this process, we will explore the GSAP documentation to understand the usage of the flip plugin and how we can integrate it into our project.

Throughout this section, we will reference the GSAP documentation, explaining how to import the flip plugin and utilize its functions to achieve the desired animations with a smooth transition.

Implementing Reduced Motion Preference

Next, we will explore incorporating the reduced motion preference. We will use the GSAP match media feature to set up code that only executes when a specific media query matches. This will allow us to cater to users' preferences regarding motion.

In this section, we will make use of gsap.matchMedia to check for the user's motion preference and subsequently adjust the animation behavior accordingly. We will demonstrate how to handle user preferences to run animations differently based on whether the user prefers reduced motion or full motion.

Adding Local Storage

To ensure that the user's layout preference persists even when they revisit the website or open it in a new tab, we will leverage the local storage feature. By storing the user's layout preference in local storage, we can retrieve this information and apply the preferred layout when the user returns to the website.

We will cover how to implement local storage to store the user's layout preference and then retrieve this preference when the page is reloaded or revisited.

Conclusion

In this comprehensive tutorial, we have covered the process of building a grid list collection layout with GSAP Flip in Webflow. We have explained how to code the switching behavior without GSAP, then integrate the GSAP Flip library to animate the layout transition smoothly. Additionally, we have explored how to cater to the reduced motion preference of users and implement local storage to store and retain the user's layout preference for a seamless user experience.