Spirit Level Loader
A glass vial of tinted liquid rocks gently while its air bubble slides to the high end, stretching as it moves and settling at the marks. The bubble lags the tilt a beat, which sells the liquid.
Also known as: bubble level animation, level tool loader, liquid bubble slider.
HTML
<div class="ldr-spirit-level" role="status" aria-label="Loading"><span></span></div>
CSS
.ldr-spirit-level {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
box-sizing: border-box;
width: calc(var(--s) * 2.2);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.46);
border: calc(var(--s) / 22) solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 55%, transparent);
border-radius: calc(var(--s) * 0.23);
background: linear-gradient(color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 16%, transparent), color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 40%, transparent));
box-shadow: 0 0 calc(var(--s) / 4) color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 25%, transparent);
animation: ldr-spirit-level-tilt 2.6s cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.55, 1) infinite alternate;
}
.ldr-spirit-level::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
top: 10%;
bottom: 10%;
left: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) * 0.58);
margin-left: calc(var(--s) * -0.29);
border-left: calc(var(--s) / 26) solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 65%, transparent);
border-right: calc(var(--s) / 26) solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 65%, transparent);
}
.ldr-spirit-level span {
position: absolute;
top: 50%;
left: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) * 0.5);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.24);
margin: calc(var(--s) * -0.12) 0 0 calc(var(--s) * -0.25);
border-radius: 50%;
background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 38% 32%, color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 8%, #fff), color-mix(in srgb, var(--c) 32%, #fff) 75%);
box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 calc(var(--s) / 36) color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 75%, transparent);
animation: ldr-spirit-level-slide 2.6s cubic-bezier(0.5, 0, 0.4, 1) 0.15s infinite alternate backwards;
}
@keyframes ldr-spirit-level-tilt {
from { transform: rotate(4deg); }
to { transform: rotate(-4deg); }
}
@keyframes ldr-spirit-level-slide {
from { transform: translateX(calc(var(--s) * -0.68)) scale(1, 1); }
50% { transform: translateX(0) scale(1.25, 0.84); }
to { transform: translateX(calc(var(--s) * 0.68)) scale(1, 1); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-spirit-level, .ldr-spirit-level *, .ldr-spirit-level::before, .ldr-spirit-level::after, .ldr-spirit-level *::before, .ldr-spirit-level *::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.