throbber
Animated waiting symbol
A throbber is a small animated graphic indicating that a computer process is running—the spinning wheel, rotating circle, or pulsing icon that appears while software loads or fetches data.
The name comes from the throbbing or pulsing animation.
The throbber kept spinning for five minutes before the page finally loaded.
Temporary data accumulation
- preloadInstall in advance
- fetchingAppealingly good-looking
- ajaxAbrasive household cleaner
- asynchronousNot happening together
request · retrieval · initializing · processing · rendering · placeholder · skeleton · hydrating
Thing that rotates
- pulseArterial blood throb
- rotateTurn about an axis
- oscillateMove rhythmically between extremes
- gyrateMove in spirals
spin · animate · loop · cycle · frame · keyframe · transition · interpolate
Calm during delays
- delayEnforced waiting period
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- standbyReady substitute awaiting use
- idleWithout activity or purpose
stall · timeout · hang · freeze · unresponsive · lag · latency · pending
Sign revealing status
- statusOne's relative position
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- notificationFormal notice given
- cueTrigger for action
prompt · affordance · acknowledgment · response · confirmation
Belief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- imminenceState of approaching quickly
- impendingSoon to occur
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
eagerness · trepidation · hope
buffering
Temporary data accumulation
asynchronous · request · retrieval · initializing · processing · rendering · placeholder · skeleton · hydrating · mounting
spinner
Thing that rotates
gyrate · spin · animate · loop · cycle · frame · keyframe · transition · interpolate · shimmer
patience
Calm during delays
- delayEnforced waiting period
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- standbyReady substitute awaiting use
idle · stall · timeout · hang · freeze · unresponsive · lag · latency · pending · blocking
indicator
Sign revealing status
- statusOne's relative position
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- notificationFormal notice given
cue · prompt · affordance · acknowledgment · response · confirmation
expectation
Belief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- imminenceState of approaching quickly
- impendingSoon to occur
uncertainty · eagerness · trepidation · hope