UI Design
Skeleton
A skeleton is a placeholder shown while content loads, using simple gray shapes that mirror the layout of the content to come.
Why it matters
Skeletons keep the layout stable as content arrives, so the page does not jump around once it loads. They also hint at what is coming, which makes waiting feel shorter.
In depth
Skeletons are usually a better choice than a spinner for loading lists and full pages, because they preserve structure and reduce the sense of a blank, uncertain wait. They work as a kind of feedback, reassuring people that something is happening. The mistake to avoid is showing a skeleton that does not match the final layout, which causes a jarring shift once the real content appears.
Real-world example
A social feed shows gray blocks where avatars, names, and text will appear, then swaps in the real posts as they load.
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