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Throbber
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<p>A throbber, also known as a loading icon, is an <a href="/facts/Animation/093f9nUg">animated</a> <a href="/facts/Graphical_control_element/SuVeScB2">graphical control element</a> used to show that a <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">computer program</a> is performing an action in the background (such as downloading content, conducting intensive calculations or communicating with an external device). In contrast to a <a href="/facts/Progress_bar/oG2cUxlq">progress bar</a>, a throbber does not indicate how much of the action has been completed. </p>