CSS  

CSS Scroll Snap for Smooth Scrollable Sections

Below is a complete, ready-to-publish blog article on CSS Scroll Snap for Smooth Scrollable Sections, including clear explanations and real examples.

Create Modern, App-Like Scrolling Experiences Using Pure CSS

Smooth scrolling websites are becoming more popular than ever—especially landing pages, product showcases, image sliders, and mobile-first layouts. Developers often rely on JavaScript to create these effects, but CSS Scroll Snap allows you to achieve the same smooth, controlled experience using just CSS.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

1. What CSS Scroll Snap is
2. How it works
3. Vertical & horizontal examples
4. Real UI use cases
5. Practical code snippets

1. What Is CSS Scroll Snap?

CSS Scroll Snap lets you control how the browser behaves while scrolling.
It ensures the scroll snaps to specific items or sections—just like:

  • Instagram stories

  • Mobile carousels

  • App onboarding screens

  • Full-page slide sections

  • Product sliders

No JavaScript required.

2. Key Scroll Snap Properties

1. scroll-snap-type

Tells the container how the snapping should behave.

scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;  /* or y mandatory, both, proximity */

Types:

  • x → horizontal

  • y → vertical

  • both → both directions

  • mandatory → must snap

  • proximity → snap only when close

2. scroll-snap-align

Applied to each child element.

scroll-snap-align: start;  /* or center, end */

3. scroll-snap-stop (Optional)

Force scrolling to stop at every snap point.

scroll-snap-stop: always;

3. Vertical Scroll Snap Example (Full-Page Sections)

Useful for landing pages or mobile onboarding screens.

<div class="container">
  <section class="page page1">Section 1</section>
  <section class="page page2">Section 2</section>
  <section class="page page3">Section 3</section>
</div>

<style>
.container {
  height: 100vh;
  overflow-y: scroll;
  scroll-snap-type: y mandatory;
}

.page {
  height: 100vh;
  scroll-snap-align: start;
  font-size: 40px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.page1 { background: #ffb3b3; }
.page2 { background: #b3ffd1; }
.page3 { background: #b3d1ff; }
</style>

Effect:
When you scroll, it jumps smoothly to the next full screen section.

4. Horizontal Scroll Snap Example (Like Instagram Stories)

Great for carousels, image galleries, product sliders.

<div class="scroll-x">
  <div class="item">1</div>
  <div class="item">2</div>
  <div class="item">3</div>
</div>

<style>
.scroll-x {
  display: flex;
  overflow-x: auto;
  scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
}

.item {
  flex: 0 0 100%;
  height: 200px;
  font-size: 60px;
  background: #ffd966;
  margin-right: 10px;
  scroll-snap-align: center;
}
</style>

Effect:
Swipe or scroll horizontally — each item snaps perfectly to the center.

5. Scroll Snap with Smooth Scrolling

Add the built-in smooth scrolling behavior.

html {
  scroll-behavior: smooth;
}

This makes the scroll transition look like an app animation.

6. Snap to Cards in a Product List (E-Commerce Example)

<div class="products">
  <div class="product">Product 1</div>
  <div class="product">Product 2</div>
  <div class="product">Product 3</div>
</div>

<style>
.products {
  display: flex;
  gap: 20px;
  overflow-x: auto;
  scroll-snap-type: x proximity;
}

.product {
  width: 300px;
  height: 200px;
  background: #eee;
  scroll-snap-align: start;
  border-radius: 12px;
}
</style>

Use case:
Perfect for mobile-first e-commerce websites.

7. Scroll Snap with Pagination Indicators (UI Trick)

<div class="snap-container">
  <section class="snap-item">Slide 1</section>
  <section class="snap-item">Slide 2</section>
  <section class="snap-item">Slide 3</section>
</div>

<div class="dots">
  <span></span>
  <span></span>
  <span></span>
</div>

<style>
.snap-container {
  height: 100vh;
  overflow-y: scroll;
  scroll-snap-type: y mandatory;
}

.snap-item {
  height: 100vh;
  scroll-snap-align: start;
}

.dots {
  position: fixed;
  right: 20px;
  top: 50%;
}
.dots span {
  display: block;
  width: 10px;
  height: 10px;
  background: gray;
  margin: 8px 0;
  border-radius: 50%;
}
</style>

UI idea:
Use JS later to highlight active dot — but the scroll snapping is pure CSS.

8. Best Practices for CSS Scroll Snap

1.Use mandatory when you want strict snapping
2.Use proximity for soft snapping
3.Combine with smooth scrolling for a modern feel
4.Avoid too many snap points on desktop layouts
Useful for:

  • Onboarding screens

  • Product carousels

  • Full-screen sections

  • Image sliders

  • Horizontal lists

Conclusion

CSS Scroll Snap is a powerful tool that lets you create:

1.Smooth, controlled scrolling
2.Full-screen experiences
3. Mobile app-like sliders
4.Modern UI layouts
5. Carousels without JS

Membership not found