Creating Skeleton Loaders in React: A Comprehensive Guide

In modern web development, user experience has become paramount. As applications become more complex, loading times may vary, leading to frustration for users. An effective way to mitigate this is by implementing skeleton loaders in your React applications. In this post, we will explore what skeleton loaders are, why they’re important, and how to create them in React.

What are Skeleton Loaders?

Skeleton loaders are placeholder components that provide a visual cue to users while content is loading. Instead of a blank screen or a simple spinner, skeleton loaders mimic the layout of the content that is being fetched. This gives users feedback, indicating that data is being loaded and improving the overall user experience.

Why Use Skeleton Loaders?

Here are a few reasons why skeleton loaders can be beneficial:

• Enhanced User Experience: They improve perceived loading times by providing users with a hint of what to expect.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Skeleton loaders can be styled to fit seamlessly with your application’s design.
• Reduced Bounce Rate: Users are less likely to abandon your application when they perceive it as responsive.

How to Implement Skeleton Loaders in React

Now that we understand the concept and benefits of skeleton loaders, let’s dive into how to implement them in a React application. We will cover:

• Setting up a new React project.
• Creating a Skeleton Loader component.
• Using dummy data to demonstrate skeleton loaders.

Setting Up a New React Project

To get started, make sure you have Node.js installed. Then, create a new React application using the following command:

npx create-react-app skeleton-loader-example
cd skeleton-loader-example
npm start

Creating a Skeleton Loader Component

Next, let’s create a reusable Skeleton Loader component. In your project directory, navigate to the src folder and create a new folder called components. Inside the components folder, create a file named SkeletonLoader.js. Add the following code to create a simple skeleton loader:

import React from 'react';
import './SkeletonLoader.css';

const SkeletonLoader = () => {
    return (
        

            

            

            

        
    );
};

export default SkeletonLoader;

Now, let’s add some basic styles in a file called SkeletonLoader.css.

.skeleton-loader {
    background-color: #e0e0e0;
    border-radius: 4px;
    padding: 20px;
    max-width: 400px;
}
.skeleton-header {
    height: 20px;
    width: 80%;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.skeleton-content {
    height: 40px;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.skeleton-footer {
    height: 10px;
    width: 60%;
}

Utilizing Skeleton Loaders with Dummy Data

Next, let’s fetch data and demonstrate how to use the Skeleton Loader component. Open the App.js file and modify the code as follows:

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

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

    useEffect(() => {
        setTimeout(() => {
            setData([{ id: 1, title: 'Sample Data 1' }, { id: 2, title: 'Sample Data 2' }]);
            setLoading(false);
        }, 3000); // Simulating an API call
    }, []);

    return (
        

            
Data List
            {loading ? (
                
            ) : (
                

                    {data.map(item => (
                        
{item.title}
                    ))}
                
            )}
        
    );
};

export default App;

In this code snippet, we set an artificial loading time of 3 seconds to simulate data fetching. While loading is true, the SkeletonLoader component is displayed. Once the data is loaded, it shows the actual data.

Customizing Skeleton Loaders

Skeleton loaders can be customized to look like different types of content. Here’s how you can modify your SkeletonLoader component to mimic a card layout:

const SkeletonCardLoader = () => {
    return (
        

            

            

            

        
    );
};

And add styles in CSS:

.skeleton-card-loader {
    width: 250px;
    background-color: #e0e0e0;
    border-radius: 8px;
    padding: 15px;
}
.skeleton-image {
    height: 150px;
    background-color: #c0c0c0;
    border-radius: 4px;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.skeleton-title {
    height: 20px;
    width: 60%;
    background-color: #c0c0c0;
    margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.skeleton-text {
    height: 15px;
    width: 100%;
    background-color: #c0c0c0;
}

Now you have a skeleton loader that resembles a card layout. You can use this card loader wherever necessary in your application.

Best Practices for Using Skeleton Loaders

To maximize the effectiveness of skeleton loaders, consider the following best practices:

• Keep It Simple: Ensure that the skeleton design is simple and matches the layout of the data it’s replacing.
• Duration: Use appropriate loading times—the longer the loading time, the more complex the skeleton should be.
• Accessibility: Ensure that skeleton loaders do not hinder accessibility. Use ARIA labels where necessary.

Conclusion

Implementing skeleton loaders in your React applications can significantly enhance user experience by providing visual feedback during data loading. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily create skeleton loaders tailored for your application’s design. Experiment with different styles and layouts to find the best solutions for your project!

Happy coding!