Rain Ripple Loader
Raindrops land at scattered spots on a puddle and each sends out a pair of flattened ripples. A wide, calm loader for empty states, with drop positions set inline.
Also known as: raindrop ripple animation, puddle ripples, rain loader.
HTML
<div class="ldr-rain-ripple" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span style="--x: 24%; --y: 34%; --d: 0s"></span> <span style="--x: 68%; --y: 24%; --d: -0.5s"></span> <span style="--x: 46%; --y: 72%; --d: -1s"></span> <span style="--x: 78%; --y: 66%; --d: -1.5s"></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-rain-ripple {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
width: calc(var(--s) * 2);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.9);
}
.ldr-rain-ripple span {
position: absolute;
top: var(--y);
left: var(--x);
width: calc(var(--s) * 0.8);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.28);
margin: calc(var(--s) * -0.14) 0 0 calc(var(--s) * -0.4);
box-sizing: border-box;
border: calc(var(--s) / 22) solid var(--c);
border-radius: 50%;
opacity: 0;
animation:
ldr-rain-ripple-spread 2s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.7, 0.4, 1) infinite,
ldr-rain-ripple-fade 2s linear infinite;
animation-delay: var(--d);
}
.ldr-rain-ripple span::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 26%;
box-sizing: border-box;
border: calc(var(--s) / 30) solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 75%, transparent);
border-radius: 50%;
}
@keyframes ldr-rain-ripple-spread {
from { transform: scale(0.08); }
to { transform: scale(1); }
}
@keyframes ldr-rain-ripple-fade {
0%, 30% { opacity: 1; }
100% { opacity: 0; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-rain-ripple, .ldr-rain-ripple *, .ldr-rain-ripple::before, .ldr-rain-ripple::after, .ldr-rain-ripple *::before, .ldr-rain-ripple *::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-16 w-40" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span class="absolute left-[16%] top-[26%] h-3 w-8 animate-[ping_2s_cubic-bezier(0,0,0.2,1)_infinite] rounded-[50%] border-2 border-blue-500"></span> <span class="absolute left-[58%] top-[16%] h-3 w-8 animate-[ping_2s_cubic-bezier(0,0,0.2,1)_infinite] rounded-[50%] border-2 border-blue-500 [animation-delay:-0.5s]"></span> <span class="absolute left-[36%] top-[62%] h-3 w-8 animate-[ping_2s_cubic-bezier(0,0,0.2,1)_infinite] rounded-[50%] border-2 border-blue-500 [animation-delay:-1s]"></span> <span class="absolute left-[68%] top-[56%] h-3 w-8 animate-[ping_2s_cubic-bezier(0,0,0.2,1)_infinite] rounded-[50%] border-2 border-blue-500 [animation-delay:-1.5s]"></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.