Skeletons, Spinners & Perceived Performance

Loading UI should communicate the shape of incoming content. Skeletons can reduce layout shift and make the interface feel more responsive than a generic centered spinner.

Do not show loading indicators for extremely short operations if they create flicker. Conversely, do not hide long waits with no feedback.

Preserve stable dimensions when possible so content appearing later does not move interactive controls unexpectedly.

Key Takeaways
  • Loading UI is part of product design.
  • Skeletons can reduce layout shift.
  • Avoid spinner flicker and unpredictable content movement.