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The Web Design Glossary

Anchor Scroll

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Anchor scroll, also known as smooth scrolling or anchor link scrolling, is a navigation method that automatically moves the viewport to a specific section of a webpage when a user clicks on a corresponding link. This creates a smooth, animated transition instead of an abrupt jump to the target location.

How Anchor Scrolling Works

Anchor scrolling relies on two main components: HTML anchor links and CSS scroll behavior. The HTML element uses an ID attribute that corresponds to a link’s href attribute with a hashtag (#). When implemented with CSS’s scroll-behavior property set to “smooth,” the browser creates an animated scroll effect between the current position and the target element.

Implementation Methods

Basic HTML Setup

<nav>
  <a href="#section1">Section 1</a>
  <a href="#section2">Section 2</a>
</nav>

<section id="section1">Content</section>
<section id="section2">Content</section>

CSS Implementation

html {
  scroll-behavior: smooth;
}

Benefits of Anchor Scrolling

Enhanced User Experience

  • Provides visual feedback during navigation
  • Creates a more polished, professional feel
  • Helps users maintain context while moving through content

Improved Navigation

  • Makes long-form content more accessible
  • Reduces disorientation from sudden page jumps
  • Supports better content hierarchy understanding

Best Practices

Performance Considerations

  • Keep animation duration reasonable (300-800ms)
  • Consider users who prefer reduced motion
  • Test scroll behavior across different devices and browsers

Accessibility

  • Ensure keyboard navigation support
  • Provide visible focus states
  • Include skip navigation options for screen readers

Modern Implementations

Contemporary websites often enhance anchor scrolling with JavaScript libraries or frameworks for additional features like:

  • Custom animation timing
  • Scroll offset adjustments
  • Mobile-specific behaviors
  • Progress indicators
  • Scroll-spy functionality

Understanding and implementing anchor scroll effectively can significantly improve your website’s navigation experience, making it an essential tool in modern web design.