What Is this feature?
This feature is part of the Laser Loader system in Classic Monks. It modifies how the laser-style progress bar behaves or appears on your site. The Laser Loader must be enabled first (see Laser Loader).
Why You Need It
Customizing the laser loader behavior allows you to:
- Match the loader to your site’s design (color, animation, speed)
- Optimize the loader for different devices (desktop vs mobile)
- Create a more professional or branded loading experience
How to Configure this Feature
Step 1: Enable Laser Loader
First, enable the Laser Loader master toggle in the Laser Loader subtab.
Step 2: Navigate to Settings
Click into the Classic Monks plugin settings, then the Interface tab, Laser Loader subtab.
Step 3: Enable the Feature
Toggle on this feature.
Step 4: Save Changes
Click Save Changes.
Step 5: Test
Visit the frontend and navigate between pages. Verify the laser loader behavior matches your configuration.
Configuration Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| This feature | Master toggle. | Off |
What Gets Affected
- The laser loader behavior: modified per this feature
- The page load: unchanged (visual only)
- The user experience: modified for the configured context
What Does NOT Get Affected
- The actual page load time: unchanged
- The page content: unchanged
- The search engine indexing: unchanged
Common Use Cases
Slow connections
On slow connections, the percentage counter gives visitors a concrete sense of progress. ‘45% loaded’ is more reassuring than just a moving bar.
High-value pages
For landing pages where every visitor matters, the percentage counter reduces bounce rates by showing progress.
Client demonstrations
When demonstrating a site to clients, the percentage counter provides a concrete reference for page load speed. ‘The page loads to 100% in 2 seconds’ is more convincing than ‘the page loads quickly’.
Performance monitoring
For developers monitoring page load times, the percentage counter provides a visual reference that correlates with performance metrics like Time to First Byte (TTFB) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).
User expectation management
On pages with heavy content (long articles, many images), the percentage counter helps visitors set expectations. Knowing the page is 40% loaded helps visitors decide whether to wait or navigate away.
Troubleshooting
The feature is not taking effect
Cause: The Laser Loader master toggle is not enabled, or a page caching plugin is serving old content.
Fix: Verify both toggles are on. Clear all caching layers.
The laser loader shows on pages where it shouldn’t
Cause: The laser loader is showing on all pages by default.
Fix: Use the cm_laser_loader_excluded_pages filter to exclude specific pages.