react spinner with code examples

React Spinner: A Guide with Code Examples

React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. One of the common UI elements in any web application is a spinner, which is used to indicate that the application is processing some data and the user has to wait. In this article, we'll look at how to create spinners in React and some of the different types of spinners that are available.

Creating a Simple Spinner in React

To create a simple spinner in React, you can use the following code:

import React from 'react';

const Spinner = () => (
  <div className="spinner">
    <div className="bounce1"></div>
    <div className="bounce2"></div>
    <div className="bounce3"></div>
  </div>
);

export default Spinner;

In this code, we have created a component named Spinner that returns a div with three child div elements. The child div elements represent the three bouncing dots of the spinner. To make the spinner look good, we need to add some styles to the component. Here's the CSS code for the spinner:

.spinner {
  margin: 100px auto;
  width: 70px;
  text-align: center;
}

.spinner > div {
  width: 18px;
  height: 18px;
  background-color: #333;

  border-radius: 100%;
  display: inline-block;
  -webkit-animation: bouncedelay 1.4s infinite ease-in-out;
  animation: bouncedelay 1.4s infinite ease-in-out;
  /* Prevent first frame from flickering when animation starts */
  -webkit-animation-fill-mode: both;
  animation-fill-mode: both;
}

.spinner .bounce1 {
  -webkit-animation-delay: -0.32s;
  animation-delay: -0.32s;
}

.spinner .bounce2 {
  -webkit-animation-delay: -0.16s;
  animation-delay: -0.16s;
}

@-webkit-keyframes bouncedelay {
  0%, 80%, 100% { -webkit-transform: scale(0.0) }
  40% { -webkit-transform: scale(1.0) }
}

@keyframes bouncedelay {
  0%, 80%, 100% { 
    transform: scale(0.0);
    -webkit-transform: scale(0.0);
  } 40% { 
    transform: scale(1.0);
    -webkit-transform: scale(1.0);
  }
}

In this CSS code, we have defined the styles for the spinner and the bouncing dots. The keyframes bouncedelay define the animation of the bouncing dots. You can use this spinner in your React application by importing the Spinner component and rendering it.

Different Types of Spinners

There are many different types of spinners that you can create in React. Here are a few examples:

1. Circular Spinner: This is a classic spinner that shows a circle rotating. You can create a circular spinner using CSS and HTML,

2. Loader Bars: This type of spinner consists of multiple bars that animate to give a loading effect. You can create this spinner using CSS and HTML, and it's a good alternative to the circular spinner if you want a different look.

3. Material Design Spinners: Material Design is a popular design language developed by Google, and it includes spinners with a unique design. You can use the Material UI library in React to create Material Design spinners.

4. Spinners with Text: Sometimes, you may want to show a message along with the spinner to inform the user about the processing. You can create a spinner with text by placing a text element next to the spinner.

5. Spinners with Different Sizes: Spinners come in different sizes, and you can adjust the size of the spinner to match your design needs. You can adjust the size by changing the width and height of the spinner element in CSS.

Using Spinners with APIs

One of the common use cases for spinners is when you're fetching data from an API. In these scenarios, you can show the spinner while the data is being fetched, and then hide the spinner and display the data when it's ready. To do this in React, you can use the state of your component to keep track of the loading status, and show or hide the spinner based on the status. Here's an example of how to do this:

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import Spinner from './Spinner';

const App = () => {
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
      .then(response => response.json())
      .then(data => {
        setData(data);
        setLoading(false);
      });
  }, []);

  return (
    <div>
      {loading ? (
        <Spinner />
      ) : (
        <div>{data.title}</div>
      )}
    </div>
  );
};

export default App;

In this code, we're using the useState hook to keep track of the loading status and the data that we're fetching from the API. The useEffect hook is used to fetch the data from the API when the component is mounted. If the loading status is true, the spinner is shown, and if the loading status is false, the data is displayed.

Conclusion

Spinners are an essential UI element in web applications, and React makes it easy to create spinners with different designs and styles. In this article, we've looked at how to create spinners in React and how to use them in different scenarios, such as fetching data from APIs. I hope this article has been helpful in understanding how to create spinners in React.

Popular questions

1. What is a spinner in React?

A spinner in React is a UI element that is used to indicate that the application is in a loading state. It's usually displayed when the application is fetching data or performing some other background tasks. Spinners come in different designs and styles, and they help to improve the user experience by letting the user know that something is happening in the background.

2. Why is a spinner important in a React application?

A spinner is important in a React application because it helps to improve the user experience. When the application is in a loading state, the user may not be sure if the application is still working or not. By displaying a spinner, the user knows that something is happening in the background and that the application is still working. This can help to reduce confusion and improve the overall user experience.

3. How can you create a spinner in React?

You can create a spinner in React by using CSS and HTML. You can create the HTML for the spinner and use CSS to animate it. You can also use third-party libraries such as SpinKit or React Spinners to create spinners in React. These libraries provide pre-made spinners that you can use in your application with ease.

4. What are some common designs for spinners in React?

Some common designs for spinners in React include circular spinners, loader bars, Material Design spinners, spinners with text, and spinners with different sizes. You can choose the design that best fits your application's needs and use it in your React application.

5. How can you use a spinner in React when fetching data from an API?

You can use a spinner in React when fetching data from an API by keeping track of the loading status in the state of your component. You can use the useState hook to keep track of the loading status, and show or hide the spinner based on the status. When the data is being fetched, you can show the spinner, and when the data is ready, you can hide the spinner and display the data. You can use the useEffect hook to fetch the data from the API when the component is mounted.

Tag

ReactSpinners