rick@tillitsdone.com

+66824564755

Scroll to discover

Understanding CSS scroll-margin Enhance Scrolling

Discover the CSS scroll-margin property.

Learn how to control element visibility during scrolling and explore available options for better web design.

What is `scroll-margin`?

The scroll-margin property helps you control the space around an element when it is scrolled into view. This is useful for creating smooth and controlled scrolling experiences, making your web designs more intuitive and user-friendly. For example, you can use scroll-margin to ensure that elements don’t snap exactly to the edge of the container but leave some space, enhancing the visual appeal.

Syntax and Values

The scroll-margin property can be used to set margins on all four sides of an element. Here’s how you can use it:

scroll-margin: <length>;
scroll-margin: <length> <length> <length> <length>;

<length>: This represents the amount of margin to apply. You can use units like px, em, vh, etc.
Global Values: You can also use inherit, initial, revert, revert-layer, and unset.

Example

/* Setting a uniform scroll margin on all sides */
scroll-margin: 10px;

/* Setting different scroll margins for top, right, bottom, and left */
scroll-margin: 1em 0.5em 1em 1em;

/* Using global values */
scroll-margin: inherit;
scroll-margin: initial;
scroll-margin: revert;
scroll-margin: revert-layer;
scroll-margin: unset;

Practical Examples

To see how scroll-margin works in practice, let’s create a simple example with a horizontally scrolling container.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <style>
    .scroller {
      width: 250px;
      height: 250px;
      overflow-x: scroll;
      display: flex;
      box-sizing: border-box;
      border: 1px solid #000;
      scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
    }

    .scroller > div {
      flex: 0 0 250px;
      width: 250px;
      background-color: #663399;
      color: #fff;
      font-size: 30px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      scroll-snap-align: start;
    }

    .scroller > div:nth-child(2n) {
      background-color: #fff;
      color: #663399;
    }

    .scroller > div:nth-child(2) {
      scroll-margin: 1rem;
    }

    .scroller > div:nth-child(3) {
      scroll-margin: 2rem;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="scroller">
    <div>1</div>
    <div>2</div>
    <div>3</div>
    <div>4</div>
  </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS

Container Styling:

.scroller {
  width: 250px;
  height: 250px;
  overflow-x: scroll;
  display: flex;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  border: 1px solid #000;
  scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
}

Child Elements Styling:

.scroller > div {
  flex: 0 0 250px;
  width: 250px;
  background-color: #663399;
  color: #fff;
  font-size: 30px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  scroll-snap-align: start;
}

.scroller > div:nth-child(2n) {
  background-color: #fff;
  color: #663399;
}

Scroll Margin Values:

.scroller > div:nth-child(2) {
  scroll-margin: 1rem;
}

.scroller > div:nth-child(3) {
  scroll-margin: 2rem;
}

Result

When you scroll through the container, the scrolling will snap to 1rem outside the left edge of the second <div> and 2rem outside the left edge of the third <div>. This creates a smoother and more controlled scrolling experience, enhancing the user interface.

Browser Compatibility

The scroll-margin property is widely supported across modern web browsers:

Browser	Version
Chrome	69+
Firefox	90+
Edge	79+
Safari	14.1+
Opera	56+

Notes on Compatibility

Chrome: The scroll-margin property is supported starting from Chrome 69.
Firefox: Support began in version 90.
Edge: Supported since version 79, which is Chromium-based.
Safari: Available from version 14.1.
Opera: Supported since version 56, also Chromium-based.

Best Practices

Graceful Degradation: Design your web apps to work well even in browsers that don’t support scroll-margin.
Progressive Enhancement: Use scroll-margin as an enhancement for compatible browsers while keeping basic functionality for all users.

Related CSS Properties

[CSS scroll snap]WebsiteUrl: Learn about the CSS Scroll Snap Module.
[scroll-snap-type]WebsiteUrl: This property defines how scroll snapping should be applied.
[scroll-snap-align]WebsiteUrl: This property sets the snap position of the element.

Articles and Tutorials

[Well-controlled scrolling with CSS scroll snap]WebsiteUrl: An in-depth article on using CSS scroll snap for better scrolling experiences.
[CSS Scroll Snap: Smooth Scrolling]WebsiteUrl: A practical guide on implementing smooth scrolling with CSS scroll snap.

Documentation and Specifications

[CSS Scroll Snap Module Level 1]WebsiteUrl: The official specification for the CSS Scroll Snap Module.
[MDN Web Docs]WebsiteUrl: Comprehensive documentation and examples on the scroll-margin property.

Additional Resources

[Can I Use]WebsiteUrl: Check the browser compatibility for CSS scroll snap features.
[W3C CSS Scroll Snap Module]WebsiteUrl: The official W3C recommendation for the CSS Scroll Snap Module.

Community and Support

[Stack Overflow]WebsiteUrl: A community platform for asking questions and finding solutions related to CSS scroll snap.
[CSS-Tricks Forums]WebsiteUrl: A forum for discussing CSS techniques and best practices.

Learning Platforms

[FreeCodeCamp]WebsiteUrl: A tutorial on CSS scroll snap for beginners.
[CodePen]WebsiteUrl: A collection of CodePen examples showcasing CSS scroll snap in action.

These resources will help you understand the scroll-margin property and related CSS features better, allowing you to create more advanced and user-friendly web designs. Happy coding!

CSS Blogs

CSS3 is the latest version of Cascading Style Sheets, offering advanced styling features like animations, transitions, shadows, gradients, and responsive design.

CSS property CSS animation

css_property_cover/css-property-inset-inline.png

CSS Inset-Inline Master Element Positioning Discover the CSS inset-inline property for precise control over element positioning in the inline direction. Learn about available options, practical examples, and browser compatibility.

css_property_cover/css-property-inset-inline-start.png

CSS inset-inline-start Optimize Layouts for Global Design The CSS inset-inline-start property defines the logical inline start inset of an element. It adapts to writing modes, directions, and text orientations, making it ideal for global web design. Available options include length, percentage, and keyword values.

css_property_cover/css-property-scroll-margin-bottom.png

CSS scroll-margin-bottom Enhance Scrolling Experience Learn about CSS scroll-margin-bottom, a property that enhances scrolling experiences by defining the bottom margin of the scroll snap area. Discover available options and how to use them effectively.

css_property_cover/css-property-scroll-padding-right.png

Enhance Scrolling with CSS scroll-padding-right Learn how to use CSS scroll-padding-right to control right-side padding in scroll containers. Explore keyword, length, and percentage values for better scrolling experiences.

css_property_cover/css-property-transform.png

Enhance Web Design with CSS Transform Property Learn how to use the CSS transform property to enhance your web designs. Discover options like rotate, scale, skew, and translate for dynamic effects.

css_property_cover/css-property-scroll-margin-inline-end.png

Master CSS scroll-margin-inline-end for Smooth Scrolling Learn to use CSS scroll-margin-inline-end for smooth scrolling. This property controls the scroll snap margin at the end of the inline dimension. Discover length and global values.

View all 337 CSS blogs

Talk with CEO

Ready to bring your web/app to life or boost your team with expert Thai developers?

Contact us today to discuss your needs, and let’s create tailored solutions to achieve your goals. We’re here to help at every step!

🖐️ Contact us

Explore our best articles, cover a wide variety of technologies

Our knowledge base

UI toolkit for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

150 Articles

Explore

Nodejs

JavaScript runtime for building scalable, high-performance server-side applications.

60 Articles

Explore

Nextjs

React framework enabling server-side rendering and static site generation for optimized performance.

40 Articles

Explore

Typescript

Superset of JavaScript adding static types for improved code quality and maintainability.

39 Articles

Explore

TailwindCSS

Utility-first CSS framework for rapid UI development.

130 Articles

Explore

Golang

Programming language known for its simplicity, concurrency model, and performance.

70 Articles

Explore

AstroJs

Astro is an all-in-one web framework. It includes everything you need to create a website, built-in.

40 Articles

Explore

Jest

Versatile testing framework for JavaScript applications supporting various test types.

337 Articles

Explore

CSS

CSS3 is the latest version of Cascading Style Sheets, offering advanced styling features like animations, transitions, shadows, gradients, and responsive design.

Let's keep in Touch

Thank you for your interest in Tillitsdone! Whether you have a question about our services, want to discuss a potential project, or simply want to say hello, we're here and ready to assist you.
We'll be right here with you every step of the way.

Contact Information

rick@tillitsdone.com+66824564755

Find All the Ways to Get in Touch with Tillitsdone - We're Just a Click, Call, or Message Away. We'll Be Right Here, Ready to Respond and Start a Conversation About Your Needs.

Address

9 Phahonyothin Rd, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, Bangkok Thailand

Visit Tillitsdone at Our Physical Location - We'd Love to Welcome You to Our Creative Space. We'll Be Right Here, Ready to Show You Around and Discuss Your Ideas in Person.

Social media

Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Connect with Tillitsdone on Various Social Platforms - Stay Updated and Engage with Our Latest Projects and Insights. We'll Be Right Here, Sharing Our Journey and Ready to Interact with You.

We anticipate your communication and look forward to discussing how we can contribute to your business's success.
We'll be here, prepared to commence this promising collaboration.