Article Skeleton
A headline, byline and paragraph drawn on a single empty div: the layout is a stack of mask layers, and one gradient band slides behind it, so the shine only lands on the bones.
Also known as: blog post skeleton, single div skeleton loader, text placeholder skeleton.
HTML
<div class="ldr-skeleton-article" role="status" aria-label="Loading content"></div>
CSS
.ldr-skeleton-article {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
--u: calc(var(--s) / 10);
--m:
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 0 / 74% calc(var(--u) * 3),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 calc(var(--u) * 4.4) / 48% calc(var(--u) * 3),
radial-gradient(closest-side, #000 94%, transparent) 0 calc(var(--u) * 10) / calc(var(--u) * 4) calc(var(--u) * 4),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) calc(var(--u) * 5.4) calc(var(--u) * 11.2) / 30% calc(var(--u) * 1.6),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 calc(var(--u) * 17) / 100% calc(var(--u) * 1.6),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 calc(var(--u) * 20.5) / 93% calc(var(--u) * 1.6),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 calc(var(--u) * 24) / 97% calc(var(--u) * 1.6),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 calc(var(--u) * 27.5) / 58% calc(var(--u) * 1.6);
width: calc(var(--s) * 6);
height: calc(var(--s) * 3);
background: linear-gradient(100deg, transparent 42%, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 30%, transparent) 50%, transparent 58%) 100% 0 / 300% 100% no-repeat color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 16%, transparent);
-webkit-mask: var(--m);
mask: var(--m);
-webkit-mask-repeat: no-repeat;
mask-repeat: no-repeat;
animation: ldr-skeleton-article-shine 1.7s cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.55, 1) infinite;
}
@keyframes ldr-skeleton-article-shine {
to { background-position: 0% 0; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-skeleton-article, .ldr-skeleton-article *, .ldr-skeleton-article::before, .ldr-skeleton-article::after, .ldr-skeleton-article *::before, .ldr-skeleton-article *::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.