Breathing Glow Loader
A ring with a soft halo that swells and fades on a slow breath, like a sleeping laptop light. Suits idle, listening and waiting states where a spinning loader would feel too busy.
Also known as: breathing light animation, glowing ring pulse, halo loader.
HTML
<div class="ldr-breathing-glow" role="status" aria-label="Loading"></div>
CSS
.ldr-breathing-glow {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
width: var(--s);
height: var(--s);
}
.ldr-breathing-glow::before,
.ldr-breathing-glow::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
border-radius: 50%;
}
.ldr-breathing-glow::before {
inset: -35%;
background: radial-gradient(closest-side, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 60%, transparent), color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 25%, transparent) 55%, transparent);
animation: ldr-breathing-glow-halo 3.6s cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.55, 1) infinite;
}
.ldr-breathing-glow::after {
inset: 12%;
border: calc(var(--s) / 12) solid var(--c);
box-shadow: 0 0 calc(var(--s) / 6) color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 60%, transparent), inset 0 0 calc(var(--s) / 6) color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 40%, transparent);
animation: ldr-breathing-glow-ring 3.6s cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.55, 1) infinite;
}
@keyframes ldr-breathing-glow-halo {
0%, 100% { transform: scale(0.5); opacity: 0.2; }
40% { transform: scale(1); opacity: 1; }
}
@keyframes ldr-breathing-glow-ring {
0%, 100% { transform: scale(0.88); }
40% { transform: scale(1); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-breathing-glow, .ldr-breathing-glow *, .ldr-breathing-glow::before, .ldr-breathing-glow::after, .ldr-breathing-glow *::before, .ldr-breathing-glow *::after {
animation-duration: 3s;
}
}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.