Web design is not just a technical process, it also involves a fair bit of creativity. As an industry-standard, there are four different types of scrolling patterns. Each of these is suitable for a certain type of website or content. For instance, what might work with image-friendly websites might not work for those that focus more on content.
A suitable scrolling pattern can help present your website’s information in the right pattern. Moreover, design tools like sticky navigation, scroll bar, and auto-play can improve the website’s feel and user experience. So, what are these scrolling patterns and when should you use them? Let’s take a closer look.
Types of Common Scrolling Patterns
Adding a unique scrolling pattern can make your ‘normal’ webpage more dynamic. For instance, you are looking at a page with information for Optimum business internet. If the design focuses more on giving you the information quicker, you are more likely to stay on the website. Also if you are using sony laptops then always go with a High-Quality Sony Laptop Battery because it improves your laptop performance.
So, to make your webpage more appealing, you need to understand scrolling techniques as well. Here are the four most common types:
- Long Scrolling
- Horizontal Scrolling
- Infinite Scrolling
- Parallax scrolling
1: Long Scrolling
You can find long scrolling patterns on web pages that have different sections. So, jumping from one section to another can feel like a long scroll. It can also include animations throughout the webpage that can move around when you scroll to a certain section.
The fluid effects might look enchanting but they aren’t for everyone. There are some drawbacks as well, like:
- It only works best when the page is broken into sections.
- Creating animations can take up a lot of time and expertise.
- One long page can be bad for SEO.
- You have to include navigation bars or else the users could get lost on the long page.
- The dynamic page can slow down loading times for your website.
So, if you want to use a long scroll there are some things you should keep in mind.
- Make sure you select the long scroll content carefully. It should follow the same theme so the section can come together as one.
- Add CTAs at the end of each long scroll section to reinforce the idea and boost engagement.
- For pages that have more than three or four sections, add a scrolling bar to help users navigate the page.
2: Horizontal Scrolling
Most web pages use vertical scrolling but horizontal could be a great option too. Side-by-side scroll can work well with content that uses more images. It can add a breath of fresh air to your page as users can find something other than usual. You can consider horizontal scrolling for:
- Visual content
- Mobile-friendly web pages
- Slideshows
The different thing about horizontal scrolling can also be its drawback. As it is different, users might not get used to it. It can take some adjusting, especially for desktop users who can find it hard to navigate. So, it can restrict user-friendliness to mobile users only. Moreover, horizontal scrolling can be a pain in the neck for text-heavy pages. Users can get disoriented and, in this case, even navigational arrows might not help.
3: Infinite Scrolling
Infinite scrolling can be a great option for social media pages and blogs. It is best when your page is dynamic and the content keeps refreshing. For instance, social media feeds from Twitter and Facebook can have an infinite length. You can keep scrolling and refreshing the page without any interruptions. The more you scroll, the more posts will keep loading. It can be great for entertainment websites because you don’t have to reload new pages now and then.
There can be some major drawbacks or infinite scrolling, though. From the user’s perspective, you can spend so much time on the website and don’t even realize it. The pages can be taxing for older machines. Developers using infinite scrolling should also add sticky navigation so users can get back to point A whenever they want to.
4: Parallax Scrolling
The most impactful and creative scrolling type might be parallax. Parallax is a broad term and the meaning can range from simple backgrounds to complex animations. With most parallax web pages the background and content move in different directions at different speeds. It is one of the cleverest tricks that can completely change how your web page looks. It is similar to long scrolling but the movement can be much more entertaining and dynamic.
One of the most common problems with parallax scrolling is the distraction it creates. People might miss out on important information because of the animation. Moreover, it can make the web page load a lot more slowly. So, it is only good for websites that need to look impressive above all else. However, choose the best Adapter for your laptop or desktop for their best performance
Conclusion
There can be other different animation and scrolling techniques and this article only covers the most common ones. You should consider the advantages of all of them and choose one that best matches the style of your content.
