Buffer indicator.
The portion of streaming media already available to play.
See it in context
What it is
A buffer indicator often appears as a secondary track behind playback progress. It distinguishes what has been received from what has already played.
When to use it
Use in streaming audio or video players.
Know the difference
Buffering measures downloaded playable content; playback progress measures the current playhead position.
Across platforms
iOS · iPadOS · macOS · visionOS
Use the native platform presentation and terminology; adapt density and interaction to touch, pointer, remote, or spatial input rather than copying a phone-sized view.
Web · Android · Windows · Linux
On the web, announce meaningful status changes without moving focus. On Android and desktop, keep messages near the relevant operation and follow the platform’s notification conventions.
Go to the source
Primary documentation for the pattern and its platform conventions.