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Creating a Dynamic Spinning Loader Using CSS and Animation

A step-by-step guide to building a visually appealing spinning loader for your website using CSS animations and keyframes.

Introduction

Spinners are visual indicators that something is loading on a page. They provide feedback to users while the content is being fetched. In this tutorial, we'll create a dynamic spinning loader using CSS animations and keyframes.

HTML

For HTML, we'll keep it simple with just a single <div> element that will serve as the loader.

        <div class="loader"></div>
      

CSS

First, we'll style the loader. We'll create a circular shape by setting a border, adjusting the width and height, and applying the necessary border-radius. We'll then define the two border colors to create a gradient effect. We'll also set the animation properties to enable the spinning effect.

        .loader {
            border: 4px solid #f3f3f3;
            border-top-color: #e122a2;
            border-bottom-color: #e122a2;
            border-radius: 50%;
            width: 40px;
            height: 40px;
            animation: spin 1s ease-in-out infinite;
        }

        @keyframes spin {
            0% { transform: rotate(0deg); }
            100% { transform: rotate(360deg); }
        }
      

How It Works

The spinning loader works by using CSS animations. The keyframes define the rotation of the loader element from 0 to 360 degrees, creating the spinning effect. By setting the animation property on the loader element with the spin animation and specifying the duration, timing function, and iteration count, we achieve a smooth and continuous rotation.

Benefits of Using Spinners

Spinners not only indicate to users that content is loading but also provide a sense of activity which can reduce the perceived loading time. They are especially useful in scenarios where users may experience delays. By customizing the spinner design and animation, you can add a touch of personality to your website and enhance the overall user experience.

Advanced Customizations

Once you have the basic spinning loader implemented, you can explore advanced customizations such as changing the colors, adjusting the animation speed, adding easing functions for a more dynamic effect, and incorporating multiple loaders on the same page. Experiment with different shapes, sizes, and styles to create unique loaders that align with your website's branding and design language.

Conclusion

Creating a spinning loader using CSS animations is a simple yet effective way to enhance user experience during loading times. By following this guide, you can implement a visually appealing loader that adds a touch of interactivity to your website. Remember to test the loader across various browsers and devices to ensure consistent performance and visual presentation.

Whole code

<div class="loader"></div>

<style>
.loader {
  border: 8px solid #f3f3f3;
  border-top-color: #e122a2;
  border-bottom-color: #e122a2;
  border-radius: 50%;
  width: 20px;
  height: 20px;
  animation: spin 1s ease-in-out infinite;
}
@keyframes spin {
  0% { transform: rotate(0deg); }
  100% { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}
</style>
      
Thank you for reading this article.

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