A drop falls, accelerating, and hits the surface: two ripples spread in perspective and a tiny droplet jumps back up. Everything runs on one shared 1.8s clock.
Also known as: drop ripple animation, droplet loader, water ripple loader.
<div class="ldr-water-drop" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span class="ldr-water-drop-drop"></span> <span class="ldr-water-drop-ring"></span> <span class="ldr-water-drop-ring"></span> <span class="ldr-water-drop-jet"></span> </div>
.ldr-water-drop {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
width: calc(var(--s) * 1.4);
height: calc(var(--s) * 1.1);
}
.ldr-water-drop-drop {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) / 5);
height: calc(var(--s) / 5);
margin-left: calc(var(--s) / -10);
border-radius: 0 50% 50% 50%;
background: var(--c);
animation: ldr-water-drop-fall 1.8s infinite;
}
.ldr-water-drop-ring {
position: absolute;
top: 84%;
left: 50%;
width: var(--s);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.3);
margin: calc(var(--s) * -0.15) 0 0 calc(var(--s) * -0.5);
box-sizing: border-box;
border: calc(var(--s) / 20) solid var(--c);
border-radius: 50%;
opacity: 0;
animation: ldr-water-drop-ring 1.8s cubic-bezier(0.15, 0.6, 0.35, 1) -1.15s infinite;
}
/* Each ripple starts at impact (0.65s) and lives a full cycle, overlapping the next fall. */
.ldr-water-drop-ring + .ldr-water-drop-ring { animation-delay: -0.9s; }
.ldr-water-drop-jet {
position: absolute;
top: 84%;
left: 50%;
width: calc(var(--s) / 9);
height: calc(var(--s) / 9);
margin: calc(var(--s) / -18);
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--c);
opacity: 0;
animation: ldr-water-drop-jet 1.8s infinite;
}
@keyframes ldr-water-drop-fall {
0% { transform: translateY(0) scale(0.3) rotate(45deg); opacity: 0; animation-timing-function: ease-out; }
10% { transform: translateY(0) scale(1) rotate(45deg); opacity: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.5, 0, 1, 0.6); }
36% { transform: translateY(calc(var(--s) * 0.76)) scale(0.85, 1.15) rotate(45deg); opacity: 1; }
37%, 100% { transform: translateY(calc(var(--s) * 0.76)) scale(0.85, 1.15) rotate(45deg); opacity: 0; }
}
@keyframes ldr-water-drop-ring {
0% { transform: scale(0.1); opacity: 1; }
100% { transform: scale(1); opacity: 0; }
}
@keyframes ldr-water-drop-jet {
0%, 38% { transform: translateY(0) scale(0.3); opacity: 0; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.33, 0.67, 0.67, 1); }
52% { transform: translateY(calc(var(--s) * -0.32)) scale(1); opacity: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.33, 0, 0.67, 0.33); }
66% { transform: translateY(0) scale(0.6); opacity: 0.8; }
68%, 100% { transform: translateY(0) scale(0.6); opacity: 0; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-water-drop, .ldr-water-drop *, .ldr-water-drop::before, .ldr-water-drop::after, .ldr-water-drop *::before, .ldr-water-drop *::after {
animation-duration: 3s;
}
}--ldr-color on the element or a parent.
Currently previewing #3b82f6.--ldr-size. Every dimension in the snippet is
derived from it. Currently previewing 64px.animation shorthand.
Delays on the children are relative, so they keep their rhythm.role="status" and an
aria-label so screen readers announce the wait. The reduced-motion rule
at the end slows the animation for users who asked for less motion.