text-scramble

name	text-scramble
description	Resolve one short headline from random glyphs — a techy decode reveal. One short line only; keep it fast. The resolved text is the real, accessible content; under prefers-reduced-motion it appears instantly with no scramble. Avoid on body copy and calm/luxury tones.
triggers	["text scramble","decode text","glitch text reveal","matrix text","解码文字","科技感标题"]
od	{"mode":"prototype","surface":"web","platform":"desktop","category":"animation-motion","upstream":"https://tympanus.net/Development/TextScrambleEffect/","preview":{"type":"html"},"design_system":{"requires":false},"example_prompt":"Use text-scramble on the hero line for a technical product: it resolves from noise, fast. Just\nthe one line; instant under reduced-motion.\n"}

text-scramble

A line of text that resolves from random glyphs. Part of motion-anything; obeys MOTION-SPEC.md. Technique popularized by Codrops, reimplemented dependency-free.

When to use it

• A hero word / short headline with a technical or futuristic tone; cycling a few phrases on one line.

When NOT to use it (restraint)

• Long text or body copy — unreadable while scrambling. One short line.
• Calm / editorial / luxury tones (feels gimmicky).

How to apply

1. Copy text-scramble.js into the project and link it.
2. Mark the element:

   <span class="scramble" data-text="motion, anything"></span>
   

3. Auto-plays data-text on load. To change the phrase later: scrambleTo(el, "next phrase").

Accessibility & performance

• Under prefers-reduced-motion the final text appears instantly (no scramble). The resolved data-text is always the real content.
• Swaps text content on rAF; keep the line short so it stays cheap.

Framework notes

• React: keep a ref and call scrambleTo(ref.current, text) on mount / when the phrase changes.