How to display a loading indicator while the page loads serverside?

[gragland]

Pages are loaded into an iframe on my website, and each page can take a little awhile to load (at least under high server load) as it queries the database. Is there any easy way to have the php page return a loading indicator gif to the viewers browser before it continues to process the php page server side?

It would be great if I could do something like this, as long as it doesn't create more load for my server (such as having the requested page display an indicator then do an ajax call to another file. This would accomplish what I need, but it seems like that would double the number of pages being requested from my already overloaded server).

Thanks
Gabe

[felgall]

Any loading indicator will require additional JavaScript to work the indicator and hence will make the page load more slowly than it would without the indicator.

[Mittineague]

To have a loading indicator reach the browser before the request reaches the browser will either require javascript to show an already loaded "hidden" element, AJAX, or a preliminary "splash" page that reloads to the "real" page..
AFAIK, most browsers have a "loading bar" that indicates the stage of a page download, but I wonder how many people even notice it. MHO javascript sounds like your best option.

[gragland]

I see, I think most people assume its loading... just thought I'd try to add some kind of indicator for those that might not.

I might give the ajax a try though, I'm not exactly sure if adding an extra, but small, page load for every request will make too much of a load difference.

EDIT: I just realized that I could probably just have a hidden loading animation placed over the iframe, and make it visible when the link is pressed, then have some js in the iframed page make the animation disappear. I'll give that a shot.

[donsarkar]

If any one reading this thread..
Please help me in similar problem at:

http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/show...36#post4173636