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Progressbars

Progressbars with CSS and JS

Progressbar with white background and green progress color and a transition lenght of 0.2s ↑

Progressbar with purple background and orange progress color and a transition lenght of 0.5s ↑

Progressbar with grey background and purple progress color and a transition lenght of 0.1s ↑



Native HTML progressbar - Styled with CSS to adjust the border-radius and colors



Adjust this slider to change the progress of all progressbars





Comparing Custom Progress Bars vs. Native HTML Progress Bar

Progress bars are essential tools for visually indicating the progress of an ongoing process, and web developers have a variety of methods for creating them. On this page, we showcase three custom "own progress bars" alongside the native HTML <progress> bar to highlight their differences, use cases, and browser compatibility.

1. Custom Progress Bars (CSS + JavaScript)

Custom progress bars, such as the ones implemented here using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, allow for complete design flexibility. By using <div> elements and applying CSS for styling, developers can create highly customized progress bars with features such as unique animations, colors, shapes, and transitions.

Key Features:

  • Styling Flexibility: Custom progress bars offer full control over appearance, from background colors to border radii and shadows. You can even add complex animations or transitions to make the progress more dynamic.
  • Control: JavaScript provides fine control over the behavior of the progress bar. For example, the progress can be linked to external inputs, such as sliders, to dynamically update the progress in real-time.
  • Visual Effects: Custom progress bars can include advanced visual effects such as gradients, animations, or even SVG graphics, allowing designers to craft the exact look and feel they need.

Browser Compatibility:

  • Wide support: Custom progress bars built with CSS and JavaScript are universally supported in all modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. However, it’s important to test custom designs thoroughly for consistency across different environments.
  • Performance: As they rely on CSS and JavaScript, their performance can vary based on the complexity of the design and the device/browser rendering the page.

2. Native HTML <progress> Bar

The native <progress> element is part of the HTML specification and provides a simpler, built-in method for creating progress bars. It is widely supported in modern browsers and offers a quick solution for developers who need a functional progress bar without the need for extensive styling or scripting.

Key Features:

  • Built-in Functionality: The native <progress> element comes with default functionality that updates automatically based on the value and max attributes. This makes it a more straightforward solution for showing progress without needing additional JavaScript.
  • Simplicity: The native progress bar is easy to implement and use, making it ideal for situations where simplicity and speed are more important than design customization.
  • Limited Styling: While the appearance of the native progress bar can be customized in certain browsers, such as via the ::-webkit-progress-bar and ::-webkit-progress-value pseudo-elements for WebKit-based browsers, customization options are generally limited compared to custom solutions. Transition effects are supported but are not as flexible as those in CSS-based progress bars.

Browser Compatibility:

  • Full support in modern browsers: The <progress> element is supported in most modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera.
  • Older browser limitations: Internet Explorer and some older browsers may not fully support the native progress bar. In such cases, you might need to use polyfills or fallback solutions to ensure compatibility.
  • Styling limitations: While native <progress> bars can be styled in WebKit-based browsers (Chrome, Safari, Opera), they don’t offer the same level of customization as custom CSS-based progress bars. Firefox supports basic styling but is also more limited than custom solutions.

3. Differences Between Custom and Native Progress Bars

The primary difference between custom progress bars and the native <progress> element lies in flexibility and control versus simplicity and ease of use. While custom progress bars offer extensive design options and interactive possibilities, they require more effort to implement and test across browsers. Native progress bars, on the other hand, provide a fast and efficient way to display progress, but they are constrained by the basic, unadorned styling and limited visual customization options.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the choice between a custom progress bar and a native <progress> bar depends on the specific needs of your project. If you require a highly stylized, interactive progress indicator with advanced animations, a custom solution is the way to go. However, for projects where a simple and functional progress bar is needed without extra styling overhead, the native HTML <progress> bar is a perfect fit.