I am looking to implement a full-screen indeterminate progress bar that overlays all screen elements. Here is my specific use case:
When a user fills out a form, including an email field, the email id is checked against a database via ajax. While waiting for the response from the server, I want a loading spinner with the text "Loading..." to cover the entire window area and disable all other controls. Essentially, I need this image to be displayed on top of all other elements.
Once the email verification process is complete, I would like the progress bar to disappear.
I have seen similar effects on various websites but cannot remember them currently. How can I achieve this without just setting the z-index?
EDIT:
Reference this screenshot from odesk.com where the progress bar displays when searching for a job or interacting with category checkboxes in the sidebar: