Gsap UtilsSAFE

Official AI skills for GSAP. These skills teach AI coding agents how to correctly use GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform), including best practices, common animation patterns, and plugin usage.

The instruction file, verbatim from the audited commit — this is the text the model reads, and the surface the audit's instruction layer examines. Quoted here so you can judge it without cloning anything.

---
name: gsap-utils
description: Official GSAP skill for gsap.utils — clamp, mapRange, normalize, interpolate, random, snap, toArray, wrap, pipe. Use when the user asks about gsap.utils, clamp, mapRange, random, snap, toArray, wrap, or helper utilities in GSAP.
license: MIT
---

# gsap.utils

## When to Use This Skill

Apply when writing or reviewing code that uses **gsap.utils** for math, array/collection handling, unit parsing, or value mapping in animations (e.g. mapping scroll to a value, randomizing, snapping to a grid, or normalizing inputs).

**Related skills:** Use with **gsap-core**, **gsap-timeline**, and **gsap-scrolltrigger** when building animations; CustomEase and other easing utilities are in **gsap-plugins**.

## Overview

**gsap.utils** provides pure helpers; no need to register. Use in tween vars (e.g. function-based values), in ScrollTrigger or Observer callbacks, or in any JS that drives GSAP. All are on **gsap.utils** (e.g. `gsap.utils.clamp()`).

**Omitting the value: function form.** Many utils accept the value to transform as the **last** argument. If you omit that argument, the util returns a **function** that accepts the value later. Use the function form when you need to clamp, map, normalize, or snap many values with the same config (e.g. in a mousemove handler or tween callback). **Exception: random()** — pass **true** as the last argument to get a reusable function (do not omit the value); see [random()](https://gsap.com/docs/v3/GSAP/UtilityMethods/random()).

```javascript
// With value: returns the result
gsap.utils.clamp(0, 100, 150); // 100

// Without value: returns a function you call with the value later
let c = gsap.utils.clamp(0, 100);
c(150);  // 100
c(-10);  // 0
```

## Clamping and Ranges

### clamp(min, max, value?)

Constrains a value between min and max. Omit **value** to get a function: `clamp(min, max)(value)`.

```javascript
gsap.utils.clamp(0, 100, 150); // 100
gsap.utils.clamp(0, 100, -10); // 0

let clampFn = gsap.utils.clamp(0, 100);
clampFn(150); // 100
```

### mapRange(inMin, inMax, outMin, outMax, value?)

Maps a value from one range to another. Use when converting scroll position, progress (0–1), or input range to an animation range. Omit **value** to get a function: `mapRange(inMin, inMax, outMin, outMax)(value)`.

```javascript
gsap.utils.mapRange(0, 100, 0, 500, 50);  // 250
gsap.utils.mapRange(0, 1, 0, 360, 0.5);   // 180 (progress to degrees)

let mapFn = gsap.utils.mapRange(0, 100, 0, 500);
mapFn(50);  // 250
```

### normalize(min, max, value?)

Returns a value normalized to 0–1 for the given range. Inverse of mapping when the target range is 0–1. Omit **value** to get a function: `normalize(min, max)(value)`.

```javascript
gsap.utils.normalize(0, 100, 50);   // 0.5
gsap.utils.normalize(100, 300, 200); // 0.5

let normFn = gsap.utils.normalize(0, 100);
normFn(50); // 0.5
```

### interpolate(start, end, progress?)

Interpolates between two values at a given progress (0–1). Handles numbers, colors, and objects with matching keys. Omit **progress** to get a function: `interpolate(start, end)(progress)`.

```javascript
gsap.utils.interpolate(0, 100, 0.5);       // 50
gsap.utils.interpolate("#ff0000", "#0000ff", 0.5); // mid color
gsap.utils.interpolate({ x: 0, y: 0 }, { x: 100, y: 50 }, 0.5); // { x: 50, y: 25 }

let lerp = gsap.utils.interpolate(0, 100);
lerp(0.5); // 50
```

## Random and Snap

### random(minimum, maximum[, snapIncrement, returnFunction]) / random(array[, returnFunction])

Returns a random number in the range **minimum**–**maximum**, or a random element from an **array**. Optional **snapIncrement** snaps the result to the nearest multiple (e.g. `5` → multiples of 5). **To get a reusable function**, pass **true** as the last argument (**returnFunction**); the returned function takes no args and returns a new random value each time. This is the only util that uses `true` for the function form instead of omitting the value.

```javascript
// immediate value: number in range
gsap.utils.random(-100, 100);        // e.g. 42.7
gsap.utils.random(0, 500, 5);        // 0–500, snapped to nearest 5

// reusable function: pass true as last argument
let randomFn = gsap.utils.random(-200, 500, 10, true);
randomFn();  // random value in range, snapped to 10
randomFn();  // another random value

// array: pick one value at random
gsap.utils.random(["red", "blue", "green"]);  // "red", "blue", or "green"
let randomFromArray = gsap.utils.random([0, 100, 200], true);
randomFromArray();  // 0, 100, or 200
```

**String form in tween vars:** use `"random(-100, 100)"`, `"random(-100, 100, 5)"`, or `"random([0, 100, 200])"`; GSAP evaluates it per target.

```javascript
gsap.to(".box", { x: "random(-100, 100, 5)", duration: 1 });
gsap.to(".item", { backgroundColor: "random([red, blue, green])" });
```

### snap(snapTo, value?)

Snaps a value to the nearest multiple of **snapTo**, or to the nearest value in an array of allowed values. Omit **value** to get a function: `snap(snapTo)(value)` (or `snap(snapArray)(value)`).

```javascript
gsap.utils.snap(10, 23);     // 20
gsap.utils.snap(0.25, 0.7);  // 0.75
gsap.utils.snap([0, 100, 200], 150); // 100 or 200 (nearest in array)

let snapFn = gsap.utils.snap(10);
snapFn(23); // 20
```

Use in tweens for grid or step-based animation:

```javascript
gsap.to(".x", { x: 200, snap: { x: 20 } });
```

### shuffle(array)

Returns a new array with the same elements in random order. Use for randomizing order (e.g. stagger from "random" with a copy).

```javascript
gsap.utils.shuffle([1, 2, 3, 4]); // e.g. [3, 1, 4, 2]
```

### distribute(config)

**Returns a function** that assigns a value to each target based on its position in the array (or in a grid). Used internally for advanced staggers; use it whenever you need values spread across many elements (e.g. scale, opacity, x, delay). The returned function receives `(index, target, targets)` — either call it manually or pass the result directly i

SAFEgrade B · trust 89/100 Nothing in the source contradicts what it says it does. Grade A is reserved for packages that have also passed the behavioural sandbox.

What the source does

Filesystem

none-observed

Network

none-observed

Shell

none-observed

Dependencies

pinned

Secrets in source

none-found

Findings (2)

CLAUDE.md

GEMINI.md

Gates applied: no_behavioural_pass.

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