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You see these things everywhere in both desktop and web development. Do they have a proper term or name? I thought I heard someone call it a "thumper" once, but Google doesn't seem to agree.

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Not really sure how to categorize this, since it's applicable everywhere.

Glorfindel
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Kyeotic
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  • I use the word "spinner" to refer to these animations, though I don't know if that's the best name. For example, spinner in Android is a control similar to a combo box. – aromero Aug 01 '12 at 23:14
  • I've called them various things as well. I was wondering if they have a more official or specific name. – Kyeotic Aug 01 '12 at 23:16
  • I guess there isn't a settled name... – aromero Aug 01 '12 at 23:19

4 Answers4

14

The term you heard was most likely Throbber - this is from early web browsers (Mosaic, Netscape) where the page load indicator was indicated by animating the browser logo.

NCSA Mosaic throbber Netscape Navigator throbber

Chris Burgess
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8

In Android development they're called "indeterminate progress bars."

In iOS development they're called "activity indicators."

Another common term is "spinner", e.g., STYLE_SPINNER in ProgressDialog, but care should be taken to avoid confusion with spinner-style menus.

blahdiblah
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1

The term Sorrento for the buffering pinner, is from the "Meaning of Liff" series, the joke etymology book written by Douglas Adams & John Lloyd,

steff clarke
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It's called a sorrento, and was given a name by a former Manager of Google Milan in honour of his hometown.

Ben Yooro
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