Dot Spinner
Eight dots in a circle, each a little smaller and fainter than the one ahead, rotating as one so the ring reads as a comet with a tail. Sizes are set once and only the wrapper spins.
Also known as: css dot spinner, trailing dots spinner, loading circle with dots.
HTML
<div class="ldr-dot-spinner" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span style="--i:0"></span><span style="--i:1"></span><span style="--i:2"></span><span style="--i:3"></span> <span style="--i:4"></span><span style="--i:5"></span><span style="--i:6"></span><span style="--i:7"></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-dot-spinner {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
width: var(--s);
height: var(--s);
animation: ldr-dot-spinner-spin 1.1s linear infinite;
}
.ldr-dot-spinner span {
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
transform: rotate(calc(var(--i) * -45deg));
}
.ldr-dot-spinner span::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: calc(50% - var(--s) / 9);
width: calc(var(--s) / 4.5);
height: calc(var(--s) / 4.5);
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--c);
opacity: calc(1 - var(--i) * 0.11);
transform: scale(calc(1 - var(--i) * 0.09));
}
@keyframes ldr-dot-spinner-spin {
to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-dot-spinner, .ldr-dot-spinner *, .ldr-dot-spinner::before, .ldr-dot-spinner::after, .ldr-dot-spinner *::before, .ldr-dot-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="relative h-12 w-12 animate-spin [animation-duration:1.1s]" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span class="absolute inset-0"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 rounded-full bg-blue-500"></span></span> <span class="absolute inset-0 -rotate-45"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 scale-[.91] rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-[.89]"></span></span> <span class="absolute inset-0 -rotate-90"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 scale-[.82] rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-[.78]"></span></span> <span class="absolute inset-0 -rotate-[135deg]"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 scale-[.73] rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-[.67]"></span></span> <span class="absolute inset-0 rotate-180"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 scale-[.64] rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-[.56]"></span></span> <span class="absolute inset-0 rotate-[135deg]"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 scale-[.55] rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-[.45]"></span></span> <span class="absolute inset-0 rotate-90"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 scale-[.46] rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-[.34]"></span></span> <span class="absolute inset-0 rotate-45"><span class="absolute left-1/2 top-0 h-2.5 w-2.5 -translate-x-1/2 scale-[.37] rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-[.23]"></span></span> </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.