CSS Loader
CSS loaders, also known as loading spinners or loading indicators, are visual elements used to indicate that a web page or a specific component is in the process of loading data or content. They serve as a user-friendly way to inform users that something is happening behind the scenes, and they can help reduce user frustration by providing visual feedback during loading times.
Creating a simple CSS loader involves using CSS animations or transitions to rotate or move elements in a loop, creating the illusion of movement or progress. Here’s an example of a basic CSS loader:
HTML:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>CSS Loader Example</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
<div class="loader"></div>
</body>
</html>CSS (styles.css):
.loader {
border: 4px solid #f3f3f3; /* Light gray border */
border-top: 4px solid #007bff; /* Blue border on top */
border-radius: 50%;
width: 40px;
height: 40px;
animation: spin 1s linear infinite; /* Apply the animation */
}
@keyframes spin {
0% { transform: rotate(0deg); }
100% { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}In this example, we create a circular loader using a div element with a light gray border and a blue border on top. We set the width and height to make it a perfect circle. The border-radius: 50% property creates the circle effect.
The animation is applied using the @keyframes rule with the name spin. The spin animation smoothly rotates the element from 0 degrees to 360 degrees in a linear fashion over 1 second, and it repeats infinitely (infinite).
You can further customize the loader by adjusting the colors, size, border thickness, and animation duration based on your design preferences. Additionally, you can experiment with other CSS animations or transitions to create different loader styles and effects.
CSS loaders are often used in combination with JavaScript to control their visibility based on the actual loading process. For example, you can show the loader when fetching data from a server and hide it once the data is loaded. JavaScript libraries like React, Vue.js, and Angular often provide built-in features to handle loaders and loading states efficiently.