What is the purpose of the `stop()` method in CodeHS animations?

The stop() method in CodeHS animations is used to halt the animation and prevent it from continuing to play. When this method is called, it effectively pauses the current frame and stops the execution of any subsequent frames in the animation sequence. This allows programmers to control when an animation should cease, either to wait for a user interaction before resuming, to trigger a different animation, or simply to end the visual sequence at that point.

In contrast, increasing animation speed would involve a different methodology, typically by adjusting the timing or frame rate attributes of the animation. Transforming an animation into a pause state generally does not apply directly here, as pausing and stopping are distinct actions; stopping completely halts animation execution while pausing would imply that it could be resumed later. Finally, reversing the animation direction would require specific commands related to the direction of the frame sequence, which is outside the functionality of the stop() method.