buffering
A common computer graphic consisting of a series of dots or ovals arranged in a circle, and progressively shaded from white/light gray to black/dark grey. When animated the formation appears to rotate.
It typically appears when an application is waiting for data (for example, waiting to receive the next few seconds of a streamed video). It can also appear when the system is busy doing something; in this sense it is equivalent to the older spinning hourglass icon.
When applied to a character, it usually indicates:
- an imminent realization regarding a mistake they made or something they forgot
- an inability to fully grasp something that has just happened
- a vacant mental state ("no thoughts, head empty")