Spotlight Sweep Loader
A lamp swings its cone of light from side to side while the lit spot slides along the floor below. Fits search, lookup and discovery states. The beam is a soft conic wedge, not a blurred shape.
Also known as: searchlight animation, light beam loader, stage light css.
HTML
<div class="ldr-spotlight" role="status" aria-label="Searching"> <span class="ldr-spotlight-beam"></span> <span class="ldr-spotlight-spot"></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-spotlight {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
width: calc(var(--s) * 1.8);
height: calc(var(--s) * 1.1);
}
.ldr-spotlight-beam {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) * 1.2);
height: calc(var(--s) * 1);
margin-left: calc(var(--s) * -0.6);
background: conic-gradient(from 162deg at 50% calc(var(--s) * 0.06), transparent, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 50%, transparent) 12deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 65%, transparent) 18deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 50%, transparent) 24deg, transparent 36deg);
-webkit-mask: linear-gradient(#000 25%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25));
mask: linear-gradient(#000 25%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25));
transform-origin: 50% calc(var(--s) * 0.06);
animation: ldr-spotlight-sweep 2.4s cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.55, 1) infinite alternate;
}
.ldr-spotlight-beam::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) * 0.24);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.14);
margin-left: calc(var(--s) * -0.12);
border-radius: calc(var(--s) * 0.04) calc(var(--s) * 0.04) calc(var(--s) * 0.12) calc(var(--s) * 0.12);
background: var(--c);
}
.ldr-spotlight-spot {
position: absolute;
bottom: 0;
left: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) * 0.6);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.16);
margin-left: calc(var(--s) * -0.3);
border-radius: 50%;
background: radial-gradient(closest-side, color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 75%, transparent), color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 30%, transparent) 60%, transparent);
animation: ldr-spotlight-slide 2.4s cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.55, 1) infinite alternate;
}
@keyframes ldr-spotlight-sweep {
from { transform: rotate(28deg); }
to { transform: rotate(-28deg); }
}
@keyframes ldr-spotlight-slide {
from { transform: translateX(calc(var(--s) * -0.52)); }
to { transform: translateX(calc(var(--s) * 0.52)); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-spotlight, .ldr-spotlight *, .ldr-spotlight::before, .ldr-spotlight::after, .ldr-spotlight *::before, .ldr-spotlight *::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.