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
Content-heavy sites
For blogs and news sites with long articles, a progress bar shows visitors how far the page has loaded. This reduces the ‘is it loading?’ anxiety on slow connections.
E-commerce sites
A laser-style loader on product pages shows the page loading progress. Visitors are more patient when they can see progress.
Client demonstrations
When showing a site to clients, a laser loader creates a professional, modern impression.
Custom loading experience
The laser loader can be customized to match your brand colors and style. The default is a thin bar at the top of the page, but it can be configured to appear in different positions (top, bottom, left side) with different colors and speeds. This customization creates a loading experience that’s unique to your site.
Performance indicator
For sites with slow hosting or heavy content, the laser loader serves as a performance indicator. Visitors can see how far the page has loaded, which reduces the perception of slowness. This is particularly effective for sites with many images or complex layouts that take a few seconds to fully render.
Marketing and demos
When demonstrating a site to clients or during marketing presentations, the laser loader creates a polished, professional impression. It signals that the site is modern and well-built, which builds confidence in the design and development work.
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.