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setTimeout vs requestAnimationFrame for UI updates

Guided tradeoff battle · Updated Mar 29, 2026

A browser UI needs smooth visual updates while the user drags and scrolls. Would you schedule that work with setTimeout or requestAnimationFrame?

  • Use setTimeout
  • Use requestAnimationFrame

Challenge preview

setTimeout vs requestAnimationFrame for UI updates: commit to a direction, justify it with the prompt constraints, and explain when the alternative wins.

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