Rubik's Cube Loader
A 3D puzzle cube whose top, middle and bottom layers twist a quarter turn in sequence. Each layer is a preserve-3d slab of five faces; the tile grid is a repeating gradient, not extra elements.
Also known as: rubik cube loader, 3d puzzle cube loader, twisting cube animation.
HTML
<div class="ldr-rubiks-cube" role="status" aria-label="Loading">
<div class="ldr-rubiks-cube-cube">
<div class="ldr-rubiks-cube-slab" style="--n: 0; --d: 1"><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span></div>
<div class="ldr-rubiks-cube-slab" style="--n: 1; --d: -1"><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span></div>
<div class="ldr-rubiks-cube-slab" style="--n: 2; --d: 1"><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span></div>
</div>
</div>CSS
.ldr-rubiks-cube {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
--w: calc(var(--s) * 0.62);
--h: calc(var(--w) / 3);
--k: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 22%, #0b0b0f);
display: grid;
place-items: center;
width: var(--s);
height: var(--s);
perspective: calc(var(--s) * 8);
}
.ldr-rubiks-cube-cube {
position: relative;
width: var(--w);
height: var(--w);
transform-style: preserve-3d;
transform: rotateX(-30deg) rotateY(-45deg);
}
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab {
position: absolute;
left: 0;
top: calc(var(--n) * var(--h));
width: 100%;
height: var(--h);
transform-style: preserve-3d;
animation: ldr-rubiks-cube-twist 4.2s cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1) infinite both;
animation-delay: calc(var(--n) * 0.35s);
}
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab span {
--f: var(--c);
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
background:
repeating-linear-gradient(90deg, var(--k) 0 5%, transparent 5% 28.33%, var(--k) 28.33% 33.33%),
linear-gradient(var(--k) 0 15%, transparent 15% 85%, var(--k) 85%),
var(--f);
backface-visibility: hidden;
transform: rotateY(calc(var(--r) * 90deg)) translateZ(calc(var(--w) / 2));
}
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab span:nth-child(1) { --r: 0; }
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab span:nth-child(2) { --r: 1; --f: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 58%, #fff); }
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab span:nth-child(3) { --r: 2; --f: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 55%, #000); }
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab span:nth-child(4) { --r: 3; --f: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 30%, #fff); }
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab span:nth-child(5) {
top: calc((var(--h) - var(--w)) / 2);
bottom: auto;
height: var(--w);
background: var(--k);
transform: rotateX(90deg) translateZ(calc(var(--h) / 2));
}
.ldr-rubiks-cube-slab:first-child span:nth-child(5) {
background:
repeating-linear-gradient(90deg, var(--k) 0 5%, transparent 5% 28.33%, var(--k) 28.33% 33.33%),
repeating-linear-gradient(0deg, var(--k) 0 5%, transparent 5% 28.33%, var(--k) 28.33% 33.33%),
color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 80%, #fff);
}
@keyframes ldr-rubiks-cube-twist {
0% { transform: rotateY(0deg); }
6%, 25% { transform: rotateY(calc(var(--d) * 90deg)); }
31%, 50% { transform: rotateY(calc(var(--d) * 180deg)); }
56%, 75% { transform: rotateY(calc(var(--d) * 270deg)); }
81%, 100% { transform: rotateY(calc(var(--d) * 360deg)); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-rubiks-cube, .ldr-rubiks-cube *, .ldr-rubiks-cube::before, .ldr-rubiks-cube::after, .ldr-rubiks-cube *::before, .ldr-rubiks-cube *::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.