skeleton-shimmer

Skeleton / Shimmer

Communicate loading progress with a low-contrast shimmer across placeholders.

Preview

A placeholder layout uses a moving highlight to communicate that content is still loading.

Implement Skeleton / Shimmer: Communicate loading progress with a low-contrast shimmer across placeholders. Use Cycle duration 1400ms, Shimmer intensity 14%. Keep continuous motion pausable and low-distraction. Use semantic HTML, scope CSS to .motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer, and mount the provided vanilla JavaScript interaction runtime. Provide equivalent low-motion behavior for prefers-reduced-motion and .force-reduced-motion.

markup.html

<div class="motion-demo motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer" data-motion="skeleton-shimmer" aria-label="Skeleton / Shimmer demo">
  <div class="motion-pausable-scene">
    <div class="motion-skeleton" role="status" aria-label="Loading content"><span class="motion-skeleton-line"></span><span class="motion-skeleton-line"></span><span class="motion-skeleton-line"></span></div>
    <div class="motion-action-row"><button class="motion-pause-button" type="button" data-motion-pause data-pause-label="Pause motion" data-resume-label="Resume motion" aria-pressed="false" aria-disabled="true" disabled><span data-motion-pause-label>Pause motion</span></button></div>
  </div>
</div>

motion.css

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  position: relative;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  width: min(100%, 34rem);
  min-height: 15rem;
  padding: 2rem;
  overflow: hidden;
  color: #18181b;
  background: #fafafa;
  border: 1px solid #e4e4e7;
  border-radius: 16px;
  isolation: isolate;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *, .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *::before, .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-surface {
  position: relative;
  display: grid;
  gap: 0.65rem;
  width: min(100%, 18rem);
  padding: 1.25rem;
  background: #ffffff;
  border: 1px solid #e4e4e7;
  border-radius: 16px;
  box-shadow: none;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-surface strong { font-weight: 500; }

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-line {
  display: block;
  width: 100%;
  height: 0.5rem;
  background: #e4e4e7;
  border-radius: 999px;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-line:last-child { width: 62%; }

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-button {
  position: relative;
  min-height: 2.75rem;
  padding: 0.75rem 1.1rem;
  color: white;
  font: inherit;
  font-weight: 700;
  background: #18181b;
  border: 0;
  border-radius: 999px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-button:focus-visible { outline: 3px solid rgb(37 99 235 / 32%); outline-offset: 3px; }

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-action-row {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  gap: 0.5rem;
  margin-top: 0.85rem;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-replay-scene {
  width: min(100%, 22rem);
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-pausable-scene {
  width: min(100%, 22rem);
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer button.motion-surface {
  color: inherit;
  font: inherit;
  text-align: start;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-replay-button,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-undo-button,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-dismiss-button,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-pause-button {
  min-height: 2.75rem;
  padding: 0.65rem 0.9rem;
  color: #18181b;
  font: 650 0.78rem/1 ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
  background: #ffffff;
  border: 1px solid #d4d4d8;
  border-radius: 8px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-replay-button:focus-visible,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-undo-button:focus-visible,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-dismiss-button:focus-visible,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-pause-button:focus-visible,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-reorder-item]:focus-visible,
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-swipe-target]:focus-visible {
  outline: 3px solid rgb(37 99 235 / 32%);
  outline-offset: 3px;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-status {
  position: absolute;
  width: 1px;
  height: 1px;
  padding: 0;
  margin: -1px;
  overflow: hidden;
  clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
  white-space: nowrap;
  border: 0;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-ripple-ink {
  position: absolute;
  width: 12px;
  height: 12px;
  pointer-events: none;
  background: rgb(255 255 255 / 72%);
  border-radius: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(0.95);
  opacity: 0;
}

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-state-stack { position: relative; width: min(100%, 18rem); height: 9rem; }
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-state { position: absolute; inset: 0; display: grid; place-items: center; padding: 1rem; background: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #e4e4e7; border-radius: 16px; }
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-state--to { background: #18181b; color: white; }

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-scroll-track > span { color: #71717a; font: 600 0.72rem/1.2 ui-monospace, monospace; letter-spacing: 0.08em; text-transform: uppercase; }
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-orbit-item { display: grid; place-items: center; width: 2.5rem; height: 2.5rem; color: white; background: #2563eb; border-radius: 50%; }
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-text-stack { position: relative; width: min(100%, 18rem); min-height: 4rem; }
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer svg { width: min(100%, 20rem); height: auto; }

.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-skeleton { display: grid; gap: 0.7rem; width: min(100%, 18rem); }
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-skeleton-line { height: 0.8rem; overflow: hidden; background: #e4e4e7; border-radius: 999px; }
.motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-skeleton-line::after { content: ""; display: block; width: 45%; height: 100%; background: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, rgb(255 255 255 / 0.14), transparent); animation: motion-skeleton-shimmer 1400ms linear infinite; }
@keyframes motion-skeleton-shimmer { from { transform: translateX(-120%); } to { transform: translateX(280%); } }

@keyframes motion-skeleton-shimmer-reduced-fade {
  from { opacity: 0.84; }
  to { opacity: 1; }
}

.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer {
  animation: motion-skeleton-shimmer-reduced-fade 160ms cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1) both !important;
}

.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *,
.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *::before,
.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *::after {
  animation: none !important;
  animation-delay: 0ms !important;
  animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
  transition-property: opacity, color, background-color, border-color !important;
  transition-duration: 160ms !important;
  transition-delay: 0ms !important;
  scroll-behavior: auto !important;
}

.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-button,
.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-reorder-item],
.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-swipe-target],
.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-spring-target] {
  transform: none !important;
}

.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-path { stroke-dashoffset: 0 !important; }
.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-word--from { opacity: 0 !important; visibility: hidden; }
.force-reduced-motion .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-word:not(.motion-word--from) { opacity: 1 !important; filter: none !important; transform: none !important; }

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer {
    animation: motion-skeleton-shimmer-reduced-fade 160ms cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1) both !important;
  }

  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *, .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *::before, .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer *::after {
    animation: none !important;
    animation-delay: 0ms !important;
    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
    transition-property: opacity, color, background-color, border-color !important;
    transition-duration: 160ms !important;
    transition-delay: 0ms !important;
    scroll-behavior: auto !important;
  }

  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-button,
  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-reorder-item],
  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-swipe-target],
  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer [data-spring-target] {
    transform: none !important;
  }

  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-path { stroke-dashoffset: 0 !important; }
  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-word--from { opacity: 0 !important; visibility: hidden; }
  .motion-demo.motion-demo--skeleton-shimmer .motion-word:not(.motion-word--from) { opacity: 1 !important; filter: none !important; transform: none !important; }
}

motion.js

(() => {
  const config = {
  "id": "skeleton-shimmer",
  "duration": 1400,
  "distance": 72,
  "resistance": 65,
  "position": 50,
  "stiffness": 220,
  "damping": 24,
  "mass": 1,
  "velocity": 0,
  "rippleSize": 220,
  "rippleOpacity": 24,
  "dragScale": 103,
  "autoplay": false
};
  const mount = (root, config) => {

    const cleanups = [];
    const addCleanup = (callback) => cleanups.push(callback);
    const cleanup = () => {
      for (let index = cleanups.length - 1; index >= 0; index -= 1) {
        try { cleanups[index](); } catch { /* keep cleanup reentrant */ }
      }
      cleanups.length = 0;
    };
    const on = (target, type, listener, options) => {
      target.addEventListener(type, listener, options);
      addCleanup(() => target.removeEventListener(type, listener, options));
    };
    const reduced = () => root.closest(".force-reduced-motion") !== null ||
      window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches;
    const watchReduced = (callback) => {
      const media = window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)");
      const notify = () => callback(reduced());
      media.addEventListener("change", notify);
      const observer = typeof MutationObserver === "undefined" ? null : new MutationObserver(notify);
      let ancestor = root;
      while (observer && ancestor) {
        observer.observe(ancestor, { attributes: true, attributeFilter: ["class"] });
        ancestor = ancestor.parentElement;
      }
      addCleanup(() => {
        media.removeEventListener("change", notify);
        if (observer) observer.disconnect();
      });
    };

    const button = root.querySelector("[data-motion-pause]");
    const label = root.querySelector("[data-motion-pause-label]");
    if (!button || !label) return cleanup;
    button.disabled = false;
    button.removeAttribute("aria-disabled");
    let paused = false;
    const toggle = () => {
      paused = !paused;
      root.getAnimations({ subtree: true }).forEach((animation) => paused ? animation.pause() : animation.play());
      button.setAttribute("aria-pressed", String(paused));
      label.textContent = paused
        ? button.dataset.resumeLabel || "Resume motion"
        : button.dataset.pauseLabel || "Pause motion";
      root.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(paused ? "motion:pause" : "motion:resume", { bubbles: true }));
    };
    addCleanup(() => {
      root.getAnimations({ subtree: true }).forEach((animation) => {
        if (animation.playState === "paused") animation.play();
      });
      paused = false;
      button.setAttribute("aria-pressed", "false");
      button.disabled = true;
      button.setAttribute("aria-disabled", "true");
      label.textContent = button.dataset.pauseLabel || "Pause motion";
    });
    on(button, "click", toggle);
    return cleanup;
  };
  document.querySelectorAll("[data-motion=\"skeleton-shimmer\"]").forEach((root) => {
    const cleanupKey = "__motionLexiconCleanup";
    if (typeof root[cleanupKey] === "function") root[cleanupKey]();
    root[cleanupKey] = mount(root, config);
  });
})();

Learn more

Before implementation

Purpose: Preserve layout during loading and communicate ongoing work through a low-contrast shimmer.
Frequency: Show only when expected waiting exceeds a brief threshold, rendering fast results directly.
Trigger: Trigger after a loading-delay threshold and stop as soon as real content is ready.
Enter / exit: Show static placeholders first, loop a slow shimmer, and crossfade briefly into real content.
Interruptibility: Update state on cancel or retry without stacking shimmer timers.
Gesture and keyboard: Skeletons are noninteractive while cancel, back, or retry controls remain available.
Reduced-motion strategy: Disable shimmer and keep a static skeleton with explicit loading text.

Accessibility

Reduced motion

Disable shimmer and keep a static skeleton with explicit loading text.

Parameter reference

Parameter	Range / options	Default	Purpose
`duration`	800ms–3000ms	1400ms	Controls the rhythm of one full cycle; continuous motion should stay pausable and low-distraction.
`intensity`	5%–30%	14%	Adjusts shimmer intensity.