Reduced Motion in Countdown Timers

Reduced motion is a user accessibility preference that requests minimal animation, respected via the CSS prefers-reduced-motion media query. Users with vestibular disorders, motion sensitivity, or seizure conditions may set their OS to prefer reduced motion. Countdown timers should detect this preference and disable flip animations, particle effects, and other motion-heavy effects, replacing them with simple digit updates. Why Reduced Motion Matters: Understanding reduced motion is essential for anyone working with countdown timers. How do I detect reduced motion preference? Use the CSS media query @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) or the JavaScript equivalent matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)"). What should a reduced-motion countdown look like? Simple digit updates without animation — the numbers change instantly rather than flipping, fading, or sliding.