Making a javascript application, at somepoint, involves use of setTimeout and setInterval functions. Well, the possibility increases even more, when one needs to animate elements. So we know what it means to use these two functions.
Fortunately we have a new method, called requestAnimationFrame(), which is elegant and effective. Now animations will not eat up mobile battery life, but still be smooth. This is optimised to takecare of the host environment, such as mobile browser, desktop browser etc. It even minimises the repeat call, if the application using it, is not visible or scrolled out of view, sweet.
Check, which browsers and versions support this function, just to make yourself clear.
Here are few links which explain requestAnimationFrame function in more detail.
Its kind of saying bye bye to setTimeout and setInterval.
Happy Animating.