Moving ASCII art
Coin Flip
A coin rotating edge-on and back, drawn with parentheses narrowing to a vertical bar.
( )
About the animation
What it is
A coin rotating edge-on and back, drawn with parentheses narrowing to a vertical bar.
Decisions left to chance, game bots and randomised results.
Motion guide
How the coin flip animation works
The coin narrows to a single bar at its edge-on point and widens again, which is enough to imply a full rotation. Four frames is the minimum that reads as spinning rather than as flashing.
Implementation tip
Run it fast, then stop on a chosen frame to show the result. An animation that stops deliberately is more satisfying than one that simply ends.
Best uses
- 01
Randomised decisions
- 02
Game bots
- 03
Coin-toss results
Use the frames
How to run the coin flip animation
- 01
Copy the frame set
Copy all 4 frames at once, or take individual frames from the reference list below.
- 02
Display them in order
Use a timer in your script or bot to advance through the frames at about 8 frames per second.
- 03
Replace the previous frame
Run it fast, then stop on a chosen frame to show the result. An animation that stops deliberately is more satisfying than one that simply ends.
Frame by frame
Every frame
( )
(|)
|
(|)
Common questions
About this ASCII animation
What is the coin flip ASCII animation?
A coin rotating edge-on and back, drawn with parentheses narrowing to a vertical bar. The coin narrows to a single bar at its edge-on point and widens again, which is enough to imply a full rotation. Four frames is the minimum that reads as spinning rather than as flashing.
Does copying the frames make them animate?
No. The copied text contains each of the 4 drawings, while your terminal, app or bot supplies the timer and replaces one frame with the next. Run it fast, then stop on a chosen frame to show the result. An animation that stops deliberately is more satisfying than one that simply ends.
Can I change the playback speed?
Yes. The preview uses 8 fps as a readable starting point. A shorter delay feels faster, while a longer delay makes each frame easier to inspect.
Where does the coin flip animation fit?
Decisions left to chance, game bots and randomised results. It suits randomised decisions, game bots, coin-toss results.
Also known as
Keep browsing