Displaying an animated GIF in a Java Swing application is a simple yet effective way to enhance your user interface, whether it’s for showing loading indicators, animations, or visual feedback. Java’s ImageIcon class, a sub-type of the Icon interface, provides a straightforward method to accomplish this.

In this guide, I will walk through an example on how to display an animated GIF using ImageIcon in a JLabel.

Step-by-Step Example

1. Prepare Your JFrame:
   Ensure you have a JFrame set up in your application where you will display the animated GIF.
2. Load and Display the GIF:
   The ImageIcon class can load and display images, including animated GIFs. Below is an example of how to do this:

   // Assume your JFrame has already been set up
   Icon imgIcon = new ImageIcon(this.getClass().getResource("ajax-loader.gif"));
   JLabel label = new JLabel(imgIcon);
   label.setBounds(668, 43, 46, 14); // Adjust these values to suit your layout
   frame.getContentPane().add(label);

3. Explanation of :

• ImageIcon: The ImageIcon constructor loads the animated GIF using getResource(), which locates the file in the classpath. Make sure the GIF file is accessible within the same package or resource folder.
• JLabel: The JLabel component is used to display the ImageIcon. You can position the label within your JFrame using the setBounds() method to specify the x, y coordinates and the width and height of the label.
• Layout Management: Depending on your layout manager, you might need to adjust the bounds or use a layout manager like BorderLayout or GridBagLayout for better control.

Additional Tips

• Ensure Resource Availability: The GIF file should be placed in the correct resource path relative to your class. If you encounter a null value, double-check the path or consider using absolute paths during development.
• Optimize for Performance: If your application displays several animated GIFs, monitor performance and memory usage to ensure the application remains responsive.