Performance Optimization Techniques

The 'will-change' CSS property provides performance benefits by giving browsers a hint to optimize rendering of the element before changes actually occur. This allows the browser to set up appropriate optimizations ahead of time, such as creating a new compositor layer, which can significantly improve performance for animations and transitions. By indicating which properties are expected to change, browsers can perform costly optimization operations in advance rather than during the actual animation, resulting in smoother animations with less jank. Common values include will-change: transform, opacity, scroll-position. However, it should be used sparingly and only for elements that will actually change, as overuse can cause browsers to waste resources and potentially decrease performance. It's a powerful optimization tool when used correctly for genuinely performance-critical elements.