Magnifying Glass Search Loader
A magnifying glass circles over a faint page of text lines, the classic 'searching' motion. The glass stays upright because the lens counter-rotates inside a rotating track.
Also known as: search loader css, magnifying glass animation, searching animation.
HTML
<div class="ldr-magnifying-glass" role="status" aria-label="Searching"> <span class="ldr-magnifying-glass-track"><span class="ldr-magnifying-glass-lens"></span></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-magnifying-glass {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
width: var(--s);
height: var(--s);
}
.ldr-magnifying-glass::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 20% 6% 22%;
background: repeating-linear-gradient(to bottom, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 18%, transparent) 0 calc(var(--s) / 16), transparent 0 calc(var(--s) * 0.16));
}
.ldr-magnifying-glass-track {
position: absolute;
left: 40%;
top: 40%;
animation: ldr-magnifying-glass-circle 2s linear infinite;
}
.ldr-magnifying-glass-lens {
position: absolute;
left: calc(var(--s) * -0.12);
top: calc(var(--s) * -0.22);
width: calc(var(--s) * 0.44);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.44);
box-sizing: border-box;
border: calc(var(--s) / 11) solid var(--c);
border-radius: 50%;
background:
radial-gradient(circle at 34% 32%, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 40%, transparent) 0 12%, transparent 13%),
color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 14%, transparent);
animation: ldr-magnifying-glass-circle 2s linear infinite reverse;
}
.ldr-magnifying-glass-lens::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
left: 50%;
top: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) / 8);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.24);
margin-left: calc(var(--s) / -16);
border-radius: var(--s);
background: var(--c);
transform: rotate(-45deg) translateY(calc(var(--s) * 0.16));
transform-origin: 50% 0;
}
@keyframes ldr-magnifying-glass-circle {
to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-magnifying-glass, .ldr-magnifying-glass *, .ldr-magnifying-glass::before, .ldr-magnifying-glass::after, .ldr-magnifying-glass *::before, .ldr-magnifying-glass *::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.