Skeleton Shimmer
Three placeholder lines with a light band sweeping across them. The skeleton screen pattern: show the shape of the content before the content arrives.
Also known as: shimmer placeholder, loading placeholder lines.
HTML
<div class="ldr-skeleton" role="status" aria-label="Loading content"> <span></span><span></span><span></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-skeleton {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: calc(var(--s) / 5);
width: calc(var(--s) * 5);
}
.ldr-skeleton span {
height: calc(var(--s) / 4);
border-radius: calc(var(--s) / 12);
background: linear-gradient(90deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 12%, transparent) 25%, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 28%, transparent) 50%, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 12%, transparent) 75%);
background-size: 200% 100%;
animation: ldr-skeleton-shimmer 1.5s ease-in-out infinite;
}
.ldr-skeleton span:nth-child(2) { width: 80%; }
.ldr-skeleton span:nth-child(3) { width: 55%; }
@keyframes ldr-skeleton-shimmer {
from { background-position: 100% 0; }
to { background-position: -100% 0; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-skeleton, .ldr-skeleton *, .ldr-skeleton::before, .ldr-skeleton::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="w-60 animate-pulse space-y-3" role="status" aria-label="Loading content"> <div class="h-3 rounded bg-gray-200"></div> <div class="h-3 w-4/5 rounded bg-gray-200"></div> <div class="h-3 w-3/5 rounded bg-gray-200"></div> </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.