Spinners Animation — Reference

Snake

The Snake is a CSS animation component that a pure CSS snake loader where nine dots arranged in a 3×3 grid fill in sequence then drain, tracing a snake-like path using only box-shadow spread animations. It ships as self-contained HTML and CSS with no external dependencies, making it drop-in ready for any modern web project regardless of framework or build system.

spinnersnakedotsloaderbox-shadowgrid

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When to use the Snake

Async form submissions and API fetch indicators
Chat typing indicators, inline loading, and message delivery states
Content loading placeholders in data-heavy dashboards
Component libraries and design systems that need consistent motion patterns
Progressive enhancement — works in all modern browsers, degrades gracefully

Performance characteristics

GPU-accelerated — uses CSS transform and opacity so compositing happens off the main thread
Zero JavaScript dependency in most configurations — no framework, no bundler required
Approximately 60 fps on any device that supports CSS animations (Chrome 43+, Firefox 16+, Safari 9+)
Self-contained in a single HTML file — no npm install, no build step, paste and ship

How it compares

Unlike equivalent JavaScript implementations, the Snake does not require any runtime library — there is nothing to install, bundle, or load asynchronously.

Compared to animated GIFs or video embeds, this CSS component is resolution-independent, theme-able via CSS custom properties, and weighs a fraction of the equivalent media file.

Source code

CSS

css

body { margin: 0; min-height: 100vh; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background: #0f0f0f; }
    :root { --primary: #6366f1; }

    .snake {
      position: relative;
      height: 60px;
      width: 60px;
    }

    .snake:after {
      animation: snake 2s infinite both ease;
      border-radius: 100%;
      content: '';
      height: 10px;
      left: 50%;
      margin-left: -32.5px;
      margin-top: -5px;
      position: absolute;
      top: 50%;
      width: 10px;
    }

    @keyframes snake {
      0%,  5%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      10%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      15%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      20%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      25%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      30%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      35%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      40%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      45%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      50%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      55%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      60%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      65%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      70%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      75%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      80%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      85%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      90%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      95%, 100% { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
    }

HTML

html

<div class="snake"></div>

Full source

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <style>
    body { margin: 0; min-height: 100vh; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background: #0f0f0f; }
    :root { --primary: #6366f1; }

    .snake {
      position: relative;
      height: 60px;
      width: 60px;
    }

    .snake:after {
      animation: snake 2s infinite both ease;
      border-radius: 100%;
      content: '';
      height: 10px;
      left: 50%;
      margin-left: -32.5px;
      margin-top: -5px;
      position: absolute;
      top: 50%;
      width: 10px;
    }

    @keyframes snake {
      0%,  5%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      10%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      15%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      20%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      25%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      30%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      35%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      40%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      45%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
      50%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      55%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      60%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0   0   var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      65%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      70%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      75%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      80%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0   0   var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      85%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0   0   var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      90%  { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0   0   var(--primary); }
      95%, 100% { box-shadow: 15px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 45px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px -15px 0 -10px var(--primary), 15px 0 0 -10px var(--primary), 30px 0 0 -10px var(--primary); }
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="snake"></div>
</body>
</html>

Frequently asked questions

How do I add the Snake to my project?

Copy the full source code from the code block on this page. Paste the <style> block into your stylesheet (or a <style> tag in your HTML head) and the HTML markup into your template. No npm install or build step is required — the animation is self-contained. To customize colors, speed, or size, use Grepped's workspace at grepped.dev/animations/spinners/snake-spinner.

Is the Snake free to use?

Yes. All Grepped preset animations are free to use in personal and commercial projects. You may copy, modify, and redistribute the code without attribution. The only limitation is that you may not resell the presets themselves as part of a competing animation library.

Does the Snake work on mobile browsers?

Yes. The Snake uses standard CSS animations and transforms that are supported in all modern mobile browsers — Chrome for Android, Safari on iOS 9+, Samsung Internet, and Firefox for Android. Where JavaScript is used for interactivity (e.g. cursor effects), it falls back gracefully on touch devices.

Can I customize the Snake's colors, speed, or size?

Yes. Open the live customization workspace at grepped.dev/animations/spinners/snake-spinner to adjust the animation with real-time sliders, color pickers, and toggles — no code required. For deeper changes, the source code uses CSS custom properties (variables) so you can edit them directly in your stylesheet.

Want to customize this animation or generate a new one from a text prompt?

Open in Workspace — it's free