Box Shadow Glow Spinner
Eight glowing dots from one empty div: each dot is a box-shadow offset around the center, the leading two carry a blurred glow, and the element turns in eight clicks. No pseudo-elements.
Also known as: single div spinner, one element loader, css box-shadow loader.
HTML
<div class="ldr-box-shadow-spinner" role="status" aria-label="Loading"></div>
CSS
.ldr-box-shadow-spinner {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
--d: calc(var(--s) / 7);
--r: calc(var(--s) * 0.38);
--q: calc(var(--s) * 0.269);
width: var(--d);
height: var(--d);
margin: calc((var(--s) - var(--d)) / 2);
border-radius: 50%;
box-shadow:
0 calc(var(--r) * -1) calc(var(--s) / 6) 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 70%, transparent),
calc(var(--q) * -1) calc(var(--q) * -1) calc(var(--s) / 8) 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 40%, transparent),
0 calc(var(--r) * -1) 0 0 var(--c),
calc(var(--q) * -1) calc(var(--q) * -1) 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 80%, transparent),
calc(var(--r) * -1) 0 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 62%, transparent),
calc(var(--q) * -1) var(--q) 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 46%, transparent),
0 var(--r) 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 34%, transparent),
var(--q) var(--q) 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 24%, transparent),
var(--r) 0 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 17%, transparent),
var(--q) calc(var(--q) * -1) 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 12%, transparent);
animation: ldr-box-shadow-spinner-spin 0.9s steps(8) infinite;
}
@keyframes ldr-box-shadow-spinner-spin {
to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-box-shadow-spinner, .ldr-box-shadow-spinner *, .ldr-box-shadow-spinner::before, .ldr-box-shadow-spinner::after, .ldr-box-shadow-spinner *::before, .ldr-box-shadow-spinner *::after {
animation-duration: 3s;
}
}Tailwind CSS version
The same loader using only Tailwind's built-in animation utilities. No custom keyframes or config needed.
<div class="m-5 h-[7px] w-[7px] animate-spin rounded-full [animation-duration:0.9s] [animation-timing-function:steps(8)] shadow-[0_-18px_8px_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.7),-13px_-13px_6px_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.4),0_-18px_0_0_#3b82f6,-13px_-13px_0_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.8),-18px_0_0_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.62),-13px_13px_0_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.46),0_18px_0_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.34),13px_13px_0_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.24),18px_0_0_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.17),13px_-13px_0_0_rgba(59,130,246,0.12)]" role="status" aria-label="Loading"></div>
Customizing this loader
- Color: set
--ldr-coloron the element or a parent. Currently previewing#3b82f6. - Size: set
--ldr-size. Every dimension in the snippet is derived from it. Currently previewing64px. - Speed: change the duration on the
animationshorthand. Delays on the children are relative, so they keep their rhythm. - Accessibility: the root carries
role="status"and anaria-labelso screen readers announce the wait. The reduced-motion rule at the end slows the animation for users who asked for less motion.