react-loader-spinner: Setup, Examples & Customization Guide

Q: How do I install react-loader-spinner?

Install with npm: npm install react-loader-spinner --save or with yarn: yarn add react-loader-spinner. Then import the spinner component you need and render it inside your component.

Q: Can I customize spinner size, color and type?

Yes. react-loader-spinner exposes props like height, width, color and visible. For advanced control wrap it in a container, override styles, or fork and tweak SVG/CSS per spinner type.

Q: How to use react-loader-spinner with async React code?

Show a spinner based on loading state: set loading=true before async call and false on resolution. Use hooks (useState/useEffect) or Suspense/lazy for code splitting patterns.

Practical, compact and slightly opinionated — everything you need to add reliable loading indicators to React apps.

SERP analysis & user intent (summary)

Search intent across the provided keywords is overwhelmingly informational with transactional edges for installation-related queries. People look for: getting started guides, installation commands, copy-paste examples, customization options (color/size/type), integration with async code and hooks, and performance tips.

Top-ranking pages (tutorials, GitHub README, npm, dev.to, StackOverflow answers and blog posts) typically follow this structure: short intro, install command, basic example, prop reference/customization, examples for async/loading states, and troubleshooting. The winners include clear code snippets and quick “copy & paste” examples.

Recommended focus: concise getting-started, multiple ready-to-copy examples, a short prop cheat-sheet for SEO snippets, and explicit answers for voice-search (FAQ). That combination satisfies both featured-snippet and People Also Ask placements.

Semantic core (clusters)

Below is an expanded semantic core based on the input keywords and typical mid/high-frequency related queries. Labels HF = high-frequency (broad), MF = mid-frequency (intent-driven), LF = long-tail.

Primary (main targets)

react-loader-spinner (HF)
React loading spinner (HF)
react-loader-spinner tutorial (MF)
react-loader-spinner installation (MF)
react-loader-spinner getting started (MF)

Secondary (supporting / intent)

React spinner component (HF)
React loading indicator (HF)
react-loader-spinner example (MF)
React loading states (MF)
react-loader-spinner setup (MF)

Supporting long-tail & LSI

react-loader-spinner customization (MF)
React spinner types (LF)
react-loader-spinner hooks (LF)
React async loading (LF)
loading spinner accessibility (LF)
spinner performance React (LF)
loader vs skeleton vs placeholder (LF)

LSI phrases / synonyms to use organically: loading indicator, loader component, spinner types, animation props, visible prop, height/width props, async state, loading fallback, lightweight loader, npm package, GitHub README.

Introduction: what is react-loader-spinner and why it matters

react-loader-spinner is a popular React library that supplies pre-built loading spinners and indicators (SVG/CSS-based). It saves time: instead of crafting SVG animations or CSS from scratch, you get several ready-to-render components with simple props for color, size and visibility.

Why use it? Because a consistent, recognizable loading state improves perceived performance. Users tolerate waiting better when they see motion; developers save time and avoid reinventing tiny animations across the app.

Note: it’s not a silver bullet — consider skeletons for data-heavy UIs and keep accessibility in mind. But for many use-cases, a lightweight spinner component is just the right tool.

Installation & getting started

Install using your package manager. Typical commands:

npm install react-loader-spinner --save
# or
yarn add react-loader-spinner

After installing, import the spinner component (different spinners are exported). For example:

import { Oval } from 'react-loader-spinner';

function MyComponent() {
  return (
    <Oval
      height={40}
      width={40}
      color="#4fa94d"
      visible={true}
    />
  );
}

Useful links: the npm package page and the official repo contain full prop lists and examples — see the react-loader-spinner installation (npm) and the react-loader-spinner getting started (GitHub). For a practical tutorial, check this hands-on walkthrough: react-loader-spinner tutorial (dev.to).

Basic example: copy-paste ready

Here’s a minimal example showing a spinner during an async fetch using hooks. Replace the fetch with your API call.

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { TailSpin } from 'react-loader-spinner';

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

  useEffect(() => {
    async function load() {
      try {
        const res = await fetch('/api/data');
        const json = await res.json();
        setData(json);
      } finally {
        setLoading(false);
      }
    }
    load();
  }, []);

  if (loading) {
    return (<div aria-busy="true">
      <TailSpin height={50} width={50} color="#00BFFF" visible={true} />
    </div>);
  }

  return <pre>{JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)}</pre>;
}

Key takeaways: toggle the spinner with a boolean state, add aria attributes (aria-busy) for basic accessibility, and keep spinner size/color consistent with design tokens.

Customization, types and styling

react-loader-spinner ships multiple spinner types: Oval, TailSpin, Puff, Grid, Rings, Audio, and more. Each component usually accepts props such as height, width, color, and visible. For example, use height and width to match your UI slot, and color to match branding.

To style further, wrap the spinner in a container and apply CSS. Because most components render SVG, you can override SVG properties with CSS or inline styles, but test across browsers for consistent rendering.

If you need a unique animation, consider copying the spinner’s SVG from the library and creating a custom component — then you’ll control animation timing, transforms and accessibility attributes directly.

Using with async loading patterns and hooks

Common patterns: local component state (useState/useEffect), global state (Redux/Context), or Suspense with lazy-loaded components. For data fetching, the simplest approach is to show the spinner while awaiting promises.

Example with a custom hook:

function useData(api) {
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  useEffect(() => {
    let mounted = true;
    api().then(d => { if (mounted) setData(d); }).finally(() => { if (mounted) setLoading(false); });
    return () => { mounted = false; };
  }, [api]);
  return { data, loading };
}

Pair this hook with a spinner to keep components declarative: show spinner when loading is true. If using Suspense, use a spinner as the fallback, though Suspense for data is still evolving in some ecosystems.

Best practices & performance

Keep spinners lightweight: import only used components to avoid unnecessary bundle size. If you use multiple spinner types across the app, consider a small shared Loader wrapper component that receives type/color/size props and centralizes imports.

Prefer skeletons for large content loads; spinners communicate “work is happening” but not what is loading. For better perceived performance, show placeholders for the critical layout and spinners for small blocking events (e.g., form submission).

Accessibility: add aria-busy and aria-live where appropriate. Provide alternative text or visually-hidden labels for screen readers to avoid confusion. Never rely on animation as the only indication of progress.

Troubleshooting & tips

If a spinner doesn’t show: check the visible prop, ensure you imported the correct component name, and verify CSS doesn’t hide the SVG. If the spinner appears but is cut off, inspect container dimensions and overflow styles.

Bundle-size tip: tree-shake by importing specific spinner components (named imports) rather than importing the entire module. For CI/CD, watch the bundle analyzer to ensure spinner usage doesn’t unexpectedly bloat the build.

If you need server-side rendering compatibility, ensure any code referencing window/document is guarded and that spinners render safely on the server (most SVGs do).

Alternatives & when not to use it

If you require more semantic placeholders or content skeletons, use libraries built for skeleton screens. If your UI needs progress percentages or complex staged animations, a spinner may be insufficient.

Alternatives include react-content-loader (SVG skeletons), custom CSS animations, or inline animated SVGs. Choose based on UX requirements and bundle constraints.

Helpful links & further reading

FAQ

How do I install react-loader-spinner?

Install with npm: npm install react-loader-spinner --save or yarn: yarn add react-loader-spinner. Then import the spinner you need and render it in your component.

Can I customize spinner size, color and type?

Yes. Most spinner components accept props such as height, width, color and visible. For more styling control wrap the spinner or override SVG/CSS where needed.

How to use react-loader-spinner with async React code?

Use a loading boolean driven by state or a custom hook. Set loading=true before the async request and false afterward. Render the spinner when loading is true; otherwise render content.