Gradient Loading Bar

A customizable animated gradient loading bar, with full support for SwiftUI and UIKit.
Inspired by iOS 7 Progress Bar on CodePen.

Screenshot

To run the example project, clone this repository and open the project file from the Example directory.

Requirements

• Swift 6.2
• Xcode 26
• iOS 26.0+

Compatibility Notes

• iOS < 26.0 / CocoaPods / Carthage support
  Use version 3.x.x
• iOS < 13.0 support
  Use version 2.x.x

Installation

Swift Package Manager

Gradient Loading Bar is distributed via Swift Package Manager (SPM). Add it to your Xcode project as a package dependency or adapt your Package.swift file.

Option 1: Xcode

1. Open your project in Xcode
2. Go to File → Add Packages…
3. Enter the package URL: https://github.com/fxm90/GradientLoadingBar
4. Choose the version rule (e.g. Up to Next Major starting at 4.0.0)
5. Add the package to your target

Option 2: Package.swift

If you manage dependencies manually, add this repository to the dependencies section of your Package.swift:

dependencies: [
  .package(
  url: "https://github.com/fxm90/GradientLoadingBar",
  from: "4.0.0"
  )
]

Then reference the product in your target configuration:

.product(
  name: "GradientLoadingBar",
  package: "GradientLoadingBar"
)

Once the package is added, import the framework where needed:

import GradientLoadingBar

Overview

This framework provides four types:

• GradientLoadingBar
  A controller class, managing the visibility of the GradientActivityIndicatorView attached to the current key window.

• NotchGradientLoadingBar
  A subclass of GradientLoadingBar, wrapping the GradientActivityIndicatorView around the iPhone notch.

• GradientActivityIndicatorView
  A UIView containing the gradient with the animation.

• GradientLoadingBarView
  A SwiftUI View containing the gradient with the animation.

GradientLoadingBar

GradientLoadingBar is a controller-style object that manages a gradient loading bar attached to the app’s key window.

Usage

For most use cases, prefer the shared instance provided by GradientLoadingBar.shared.

final class UserProfileViewController: UIViewController {

  override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    GradientLoadingBar.shared.fadeIn()

    userProfileService.fetchUserProfile { _ in
      // ...
      // Be sure to call this from the main actor!
      GradientLoadingBar.shared.fadeOut()
    }
  }
}

This shared instance can be overridden to customize the loading bar globally.

Configuration

let gradientLoadingBar = GradientLoadingBar(
  height: 5.0,
  isRelativeToSafeArea: false,
)

gradientLoadingBar.gradientColors = [.systemIndigo, .systemPurple, .systemPink]
gradientLoadingBar.progressAnimationDuration = 4.5

Parameters

• height: CGFloat
  Sets the bar height (default: 3.0)

• isRelativeToSafeArea: Bool
  Determines whether the bar is positioned relative to the safe area (default: true)

Relative To Safe Area	Ignoring Safe Area

The gradient animation is easier to see in a video of the example application:

🎬 Relative To Safe Area

relative-to-safe-area.mov

🎬 Ignoring Safe Area

ignoring-safe-area.mov

Note: For a third option — wrapping around the iPhone notch — see NotchGradientLoadingBar.

Properties

• gradientColors: [UIColor]
  Defines the gradient colors.

• progressAnimationDuration: TimeInterval
  Controls how fast the gradient animates from left to right.

Methods

• fadeIn(duration: TimeInterval = 0.33, completion: ((Bool) -> Void)? = nil)
  Fades the loading bar in.

• fadeOut(duration: TimeInterval = 0.66, completion: ((Bool) -> Void)? = nil)
  Fades the loading bar out.

NotchGradientLoadingBar

NotchGradientLoadingBar is a subclass of GradientLoadingBar that wraps the bar around the iPhone notch.
On devices without a notch, it behaves identically to GradientLoadingBar.

iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 13 Pro Max

The gradient animation is easier to see in a video of the example application:

🎬 iPhone 12 Pro

notch-iphone-12-pro.mov

🎬 iPhone 13 Pro Max

notch-iphone-13-pro-max.mov

GradientActivityIndicatorView

If you prefer direct view composition, GradientActivityIndicatorView is a UIView subclass that can be added to other views — such as UINavigationBar, UIButton or a custom container.

Usage

Store an instance as a property, set-up constraints and control the visibility using fadeIn() and fadeOut().

final class UserProfileViewController: UIViewController {

  private let gradientActivityIndicatorView = GradientActivityIndicatorView()

  // ...

  override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()

    gradientActivityIndicatorView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
    view.addSubview(gradientActivityIndicatorView)

    NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
      gradientActivityIndicatorView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.leadingAnchor),
      gradientActivityIndicatorView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.trailingAnchor),
      gradientActivityIndicatorView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.topAnchor),
      gradientActivityIndicatorView.heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 3),
    ])

    gradientActivityIndicatorView.fadeIn()

    userProfileService.fetchUserProfile { [weak self] _ in
      // ...
      // Be sure to call this from the main actor!
      self?.gradientActivityIndicatorView.fadeOut()
    }
  }
}

Configuration

let gradientActivityIndicatorView = GradientActivityIndicatorView()
gradientActivityIndicatorView.gradientColors = [.systemIndigo, .systemPurple, .systemPink]
gradientActivityIndicatorView.progressAnimationDuration = 4.5

Properties

• isHidden: Bool
  Toggles the view visibility and starts / stops the progress animation accordingly.

• gradientColors: [UIColor]
  Defines the gradient colors.

• progressAnimationDuration: TimeInterval
  Controls how fast the gradient animates from left to right.

Methods

• fadeIn(duration: TimeInterval = 0.33, completion: ((Bool) -> Void)? = nil)
  Fades the view in.

• fadeOut(duration: TimeInterval = 0.66, completion: ((Bool) -> Void)? = nil)
  Fades the view out.

• animate(isHidden: Bool, duration: TimeInterval, completion: ((Bool) -> Void)? = nil)
  Fades the view in- or out, based on the provided hidden flag.

GradientLoadingBarView

GradientLoadingBarView is the SwiftUI equivalent of GradientActivityIndicatorView.

Usage

struct ContentView: some View {

  var body: some View {
    GradientLoadingBarView()
      .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: 3)
      .cornerRadius(1.5)
  }
}

Configuration

GradientLoadingBarView(
  gradientColors: [.indigo, .purple, .pink],
  progressDuration: 4.5,
)

Parameters

• gradientColors: [Color]
  Defines the gradient colors.

• progressDuration: TimeInterval
  Sets the animation speed.

Visibility & Animation

Control the visibility using standard SwiftUI view modifiers such as:

• opacity(_:)
• hidden()

Example with fade animation.

struct ContentView: some View {

  @State
  private var isVisible = false

  var body: some View {
    VStack {
      GradientLoadingBarView()
        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: 3)
        .cornerRadius(1.5)
        .opacity(isVisible ? 1 : 0)
        .animation(.easeInOut, value: isVisible)

      Button("Toggle visibility") {
        isVisible.toggle()
      }
    }
  }
}

Author

Felix Mau me(@)felix.hamburg

License

Gradient Loading Bar is released under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.