Progress Indicators
Progress indicators inform users that an operation is in progress and the application is not frozen.
When to use
Show for operations that last more than 1 second. Do not show for shorter operations. Remove the indicator after an operation is completed.
Types
Two types of progress indicators are used in the IntelliJ Platform: a progress bar and a loader.
Loader
Use a loader for local or inline operations:
Loading content in fields, dropdowns, comboboxes, tree or list nodes
Loading content in an empty state
Showing an action in process, like applying a filter or refreshing data
Progress Bar
Use a progress bar for background or system operations:
Updating content in the main window, tool windows or editors
Showing long-running tasks that need visual tracking
14 July 2026