css scroll snap

CSS Scroll Snap — Smooth Scrolling Experiences

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Want to build sliders, carousels, or sections that snap perfectly as you scroll? The CSS scroll-snap feature makes it easy to create smooth, precise scroll experiences without relying on heavy JavaScript libraries. Whether you’re building a horizontal slider or snapping to sections vertically, scroll-snap makes it feel polished and user-friendly. In this MiniCoursey quick guide, you’ll learn how scroll snapping works, common use cases, and best practices for modern layouts.

What is CSS Scroll Snap?

The scroll-snap module lets you control how scrollable containers and their children behave when scrolling. It makes the scroll position lock to defined points automatically, so the user lands right where you want them to.

Basic Setup

To use scroll snapping, set the container’s scroll-snap-type and each child’s scroll-snap-align.


.slider {
  scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
  overflow-x: scroll;
  display: flex;
}

.slide {
  scroll-snap-align: start;
  flex: none;
  width: 300px;
}

This example creates a horizontal slider where each slide snaps into place when scrolling.

Common Use Cases

  • Horizontal sliders for images or cards.
  • Full-page vertical section snapping.
  • Gallery carousels with smooth swipe behavior.

💡 Pro Tip: Combine scroll-snap with scroll-behavior: smooth for even better user experience.

⚠️ Common Mistake: Forgetting to add overflow scrolling to the container — snapping only works in scrollable areas!

FAQ

Q: Does scroll snap work on touch devices?
A: Yes — it works great with touch gestures, making it ideal for mobile sliders.

Q: Can I mix horizontal and vertical snapping?
A: Absolutely! Use scroll-snap-type: both for grids or advanced layouts.

Related Link

👉 Check out previous: CSS Writing Modes — Vertical & RTL Layouts

Where to Learn More

Explore MDN’s Scroll Snap guide for more examples and advanced tips. Try building a responsive carousel or vertical scrollytelling section!

Conclusion

Congrats — you now know how to build smooth, modern scroll experiences with CSS Scroll Snap! Say goodbye to clunky JavaScript sliders for simple cases.

✨ Bookmark MiniCoursey for more quick & free mini courses!

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