What design technique gives the impression that an application is loading faster?

The technique that creates the impression that an application is loading faster is Skeleton States. This design approach involves displaying placeholder elements that resemble the layout of content expected to be loaded. By showing a simplified version of the user interface, users can start to feel engaged and perceive that the application is responsive, even while the actual content is still being loaded in the background. This helps to reduce frustration as users are visually informed about what they can expect, making it seem like the application is working efficiently.

While other options like progress indicators, loading animations, and spinner effects also convey the notion of loading, they typically focus on indicating the loading process rather than providing a sense of content availability. Skeleton states go further by giving a preview of what users can expect, enhancing their experience during the wait time.