How can you smoothly animate color changes using CSS?

The correct choice is to define a transition property for the color attribute, as this is a fundamental way to achieve smooth color animations in CSS. By specifying a transition on the color property, you instruct the browser to animate the change in color over a specified duration, making the transition visually appealing. For example, when a user hovers over an element, if the color changes, the transition will allow that change to occur gradually rather than abruptly, enhancing the user experience.

This approach leverages the built-in capabilities of CSS to handle animations without the need for external libraries or complex JavaScript. By using the transition property in conjunction with the desired CSS rules, developers can specify the duration, timing function, and other aspects of the animation, leading to smooth and polished interactions on the web page.

Other options may contribute to changing colors but do not provide the same level of control and smoothness. Using the hover selector can change colors instantly without an animation effect unless paired with transitions. While keyframes can also animate color changes, they are more suited for complex animations involving multiple changes rather than a simple transition. Directly manipulating the color with JavaScript can change it instantly but lacks the smoothness provided by CSS transitions. Therefore, defining a transition property specifically